Long March 12
Rendering of a Long March 12 | |
| Function | Medium-lift launch vehicle |
|---|---|
| Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 555: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology |
| Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 555: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | China |
| Size | |
| Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 555: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | 62 m (203 ft 5 in) |
| Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 555: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | 3.8 m (12 ft 6 in) |
| Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 555: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | 433 t (954,602 lb) |
| Stages | 2 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO | |
| Altitude | 200 km (120 mi) |
| Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 555: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | 12,000 kg (26,000 lb) |
| Payload to LEO | |
| Altitude | 300 km (190 mi) |
| Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 555: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | 10,000 kg (22,000 lb) |
| Payload to SSO | |
| Altitude | 700 km (430 mi) |
| Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 555: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | 6,000 kg (13,000 lb) |
| Associated rockets | |
| Family | Long March |
| Comparable | |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Active |
| Launch sites | Wenchang Commercial, LC-2 |
| Total launches | 4 |
| Success(es) | 4 |
| First flight | 30 November 2024 |
| Last flight | 11 December 2025 (most recent) |
| First stage | |
| Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 555: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | 4 × YF-100K |
| Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 555: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | 5,000 kN (1,100,000 lbf) |
| Propellant | RP-1 / LOX |
| Second stage | |
| Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 555: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | 2 × YF-115 |
| Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 555: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | 360 kN (81,000 lbf) |
| Propellant | RP-1 / LOX[1] |
The Long March 12 (Chinese: 长征十二号运载火箭; pinyin: Chang Zheng 12, abbreviated LM-12 for export or CZ-12 within China), is a Chinese medium-lift launch vehicle carrier rocket. Both stages use liquid fuel: refined kerosene (RP-1) and liquid oxygen (LOX). The manufacturer is Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology. It is capable of placing at least 12 tonnes (26,000 lb) of payload in low Earth orbit and at least 6 tonnes (13,000 lb) in a 700 kilometres (430 mi) Sun-synchronous orbit. Its first launch took place on November 30, 2024 from the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Site on Hainan island.[2][3]
There is also a planned reusable version of the rocket, the CZ-12A; efforts are currently underway to verify stage-reusability technology via vertical take-off, vertical landing (VTVL) tests.[4]
History and details
[edit | edit source]CZ-12
[edit | edit source]On 26 February 2024, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) released its annual "Blue Book" which detailed the company's launch plans for the coming year; one of the projects revealed in the Blue Book is the new Long March 12 medium-lift rocket.[2] Long March 12 (CZ-12) is designed as a two-stage rocket: its first stage is powered by four YF-100K 1250 KN engines using RP-1 and liquid oxygen while its second stage is powered by two YF-115 180 kN engines also using RP-1/LOX. The rocket offers two payload fairing choices, one with a diameter of 5.2 metres and another with a diameter of 4.2 metres.[5]
CZ-12 has a stage diameter of 3.8 metres, a first for China. It is launched from the new commercial launch site located at China's coastal spaceport in Wenchang.[6]
The maiden launch of the new rocket occurred at 14:25 UTC on 30 November 2024 from the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Site. There were two payloads on the launch: the “Satellite Internet Technology Test Satellite” and the “Technology Test Satellite-3”. Notably, this launch featured the new YF-100K rocket engine in its initial orbital launch attempt; the engine is a critical component of the under-development superheavy-lift Long March 10 lunar rocket. In addition, the maiden launch of the CZ-12 also constitutes the debut launch from the new Hainan commercial launch site.[3]
CZ-12A reusable variant
[edit | edit source]In the future, SAST plans to introduce a variant with a reusable first stage: the Long March 12A (CZ-12A). It is anticipated that the CZ-12A will use methane and liquid-oxygen rocket engines from commercial providers.
Launch statistics
[edit | edit source]- Failure
- Partial failure
- Success
- Planned
List of launches
[edit | edit source]| Flight Number | Serial number | Date/Time (UTC) | Launch site | Payload | Orbit | Result | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Y1 | 30 November 2024 14:25 |
Wenchang Commercial, LC-2 | Hulianwang Jishu Shiyan 5A JSW-03 |
LEO | Success | Maiden flight of Long March 12. - First flight of YF-100K engines. - First launch from WC-LC-2 |
| 2 | Y2 | 4 August 2025 10:21 |
Wenchang Commercial, LC-2 | Huliangwang × 9 (SatNet LEO Group 07) | LEO | Success | |
| 3 | Y3 | 10 November 2025 02:41 |
Wenchang Commercial, LC-2 | Huliangwang × 9 (SatNet LEO Group 13) | LEO | Success | |
| 4 | Y4 | 11 December 2025 23:00 |
Wenchang Commercial, LC-2 | Huliangwang × 9 (SatNet LEO Group 16) | LEO | Success |
See also
[edit | edit source]Lua error in mw.title.lua at line 392: bad argument #2 to 'title.new' (unrecognized namespace name 'Portal').
- China National Space Administration
- List of Long March launches (2025-2029)
- Comparison of orbital launchers families
- Comparison of orbital launch systems
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).