On Monday, China achieved a significant milestone in its space exploration efforts with the successful maiden flight of the Long March 12B carrier rocket. This launch is a testament to the country’s advancing space capabilities. The rocket took off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, reaching its designated orbit and deploying the latest batch of the Spacesail Constellation communication satellites.
The Long March 12B, standing at approximately 72 meters tall, is now the most powerful single-body rocket in China’s arsenal. It features a two-stage launch configuration powered by 10 engines fueled by liquid oxygen and kerosene, producing a remarkable thrust of about 800 metric tons at liftoff. This allows the rocket to carry over 20 tons of payload into low-Earth orbit.
Development of this rocket began in September 2024, with engineers integrating cutting-edge technologies to enhance its performance and efficiency. Among these innovations are high-performance propulsion systems, lightweight structural components, optimized fuel management, and autonomous flight-control software that can adapt to unexpected events during flight.
Looking ahead, engineers are working on future tests aimed at recovering and reusing the rocket’s first-stage booster. Success in these efforts could lead to a reusable version of the Long March 12B that may be operational in the coming years.
This mission also contributed to the expansion of the Spacesail Constellation, a low-Earth-orbit satellite network established to deliver high-speed global broadband internet services. With this launch, the project now boasts over 160 satellites, moving closer to its ambitious goal of deploying more than 10,000 satellites by 2030. This successful deployment marks a significant achievement for China’s burgeoning commercial space sector and its aspirations to enhance global satellite internet connectivity.