Long March family
Long March 12A
Long March 12A/Changzheng 12A (LM-12A/CZ-12A) is a reusable orbital launch vehicle developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST) of the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). The rocket is based on the Long March 12, but extensively re-designed for first stage re-usability, and use of gas generator cycle methane/liquid oxygen powered rocket engines in both stages. The first stage uses 7 Longyun-70 engines designed and manufactured by the private company Jiuzhou Yunjian (JZYJ), while the second stage uses 1 YF-209V engine from CASC's Academy of Aerospace Liquid Propulsion Technology (AALPT). On launch missions where the first stage is recovered, it will land on a down-range landing pad located in Minqin County, Gansu Province.
Long March 12A is built by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation of China. It first flew on 23 December 2025.
Flight record
Landing record
Payload
| Low Earth orbit | 12,000kg |
|---|---|
| Sun-synchronous orbit | 7,300kg |
Vehicle
| Stages | 2 |
|---|---|
| Length | 69m |
| Diameter | 3.8m |
| Liftoff thrust | 5,250kN |
| Maiden flight | 2025-12-23 |
| Reusable | Yes |
Pads used
Orbits delivered
Launch history
| Date | Mission | Pad | Orbit | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-23 | Long March 12A | Demo Flight | Long March 12 series Pad | Low Earth Orbit | Success |
| TBD | Long March 12A | Flight 2 | Long March 12 series Pad | Low Earth Orbit | Scheduled |
Specifications from Launch Library 2 by The Space Devs, launch records from Space Index. Derived figures are computed here; see sources and method.
Further reading: Wikipedia
Fewer than three recorded flights, so this page is marked noindex. It is here for completeness, not for search.