China has achieved a significant milestone in its space endeavors with the successful inaugural flight of the Long March 12B carrier rocket. The launch took place on Monday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, where the rocket entered its designated orbit and deployed the 10th batch of Spacesail Constellation communication satellites.
The Long March 12B, standing about 72 meters tall, is the most powerful single-body rocket developed by China to date. It features a two-stage launch vehicle powered by 10 engines fueled by liquid oxygen and kerosene, generating approximately 800 metric tons of thrust at liftoff. This allows it to transport over 20 tons of cargo into low-Earth orbit.
Since development commenced in September 2024, engineers have introduced several advanced technologies to enhance the rocket’s performance and efficiency. These innovations include high-performance propulsion components, lightweight structures, optimized fuel management systems, and autonomous flight-control software designed to handle in-flight anomalies. Future plans include testing to recover and reuse the rocket’s first-stage booster, with hopes of a reusable version entering service in the next few years.
The mission also contributed to the expansion of the Spacesail Constellation, a low-Earth-orbit satellite network aimed at providing high-speed global broadband internet services. With over 160 satellites already launched, the project has an ambitious goal of deploying over 10,000 satellites by the year 2030.
This successful launch underscores China’s growing capabilities in the commercial space sector and its aspirations to broaden global satellite internet coverage. As the nation continues to advance its space technology, the Long March 12B represents a step forward in China’s efforts to assert itself in the international space arena.