OnCNSA –China National Space Administration …. ChangZheng Long March 12 flight rocket …. At Hainan Commercial Space Launch Center. Wenchang, Hainan Province, China, People’s Republic of China ….At 12:10 on August 16, 2026, the Long March 12 Y8 carrier rocket successfully sent 24 satellites for the satellite internet into their predetermined orbit from the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site, marking another acceleration in the networking of my country’s low-Earth orbit constellation
At 12:10 PM on August 16, the Long March 12 carrier rocket ignited and lifted off from the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site, successfully sending 24 low-Earth orbit satellites for satellite internet into their predetermined orbits. The launch mission was a complete success.
The 24 low-Earth orbit satellites were developed by the Fifth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). CASC’s China Commercial Rocket Company provided launch services as the general contractor. The Long March 12 rocket was developed by the Eighth Academy of CASC. This launch was the 663rd launch of the Long March series of carrier rocket
I. Launch Mission Overview
Launch time : 12:10 PM Beijing time on August 16, 2026.
Launch site : Launch pad number 2 at the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site.4
Payload : 24 low-Earth orbit satellites for satellite internet, developed by the Fifth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, with launch services provided by China Commercial Launch.
Flight record : This mission was the 663rd flight of the Long March series carrier rockets.4
II. Core Performance of the Rocket
Rocket configuration : China’s first 3.8-meter diameter, 4-meter class single-core liquid-fueled launch vehicle, two-stage configuration, with a total length of about 62.6 meters and a takeoff weight of 430 tons.
Carrying capacity : The carrying capacity to low Earth orbit is not less than 12 tons, and the carrying capacity to 700 km sun-synchronous orbit is not less than 6 tons.
Launch and test mode : The “three-horizontal” mode of horizontal assembly, horizontal testing and horizontal transportation is adopted, which greatly improves launch efficiency.
III. Strategic Significance of Network Deployment
Constellation construction : Accelerate the backbone network construction process of China’s low-Earth orbit satellite internet constellations (such as Qianfan and GW constellations) to provide support for subsequent large-scale commercial use..
Commercial closed loop : Relying on Hainan Commercial Launch, a closed loop of the entire commercial aerospace industry chain has been completed, encompassing satellite and rocket manufacturing, commercial launch site testing and launch, and satellite data application services.
OnCNSA –China National Space Administration …. ChangZheng Long March 12 flight rocket …. At Hainan Commercial Space Launch Center. Wenchang, Hainan Province, China, People’s Republic of China ….Long March 12 Y8 is in position! Launch scheduled for August 16th! On August 13th, 2026, the Long March 12 Y8 carrier rocket was successfully transported to Launch Complex 2 at the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site, and is scheduled for launch on August 16th.
At 18:00 on August 13, 2026, the Long March 12 carrier rocket completed its transfer and is scheduled for launch at launch pad 2 of the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site.
As China’s first 3.8-meter diameter single-core liquid-fueled carrier rocket, it has a low-Earth orbit payload capacity of 12 tons. Utilizing the “three-level” rapid launch and testing mode of launch pad 2, it can support the high-frequency network launch needs of domestic commercial spaceflight, further accelerating the deployment of satellite constellation
Beijing Zhongke Aerospace Exploration Technology Co., Ltd. is the first domestic aerospace enterprise with mixed ownership, and it is also the target enterprise that Oriental Aerospace Port focuses on introducing. Relying on the scientific research strength and resource advantages of the Institute of Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Aerospace Flight Technology Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Aerospace Science and Technology has been committed to the research and development and integration of space technology and aerospace vehicles as a platform for the transformation of major national scientific research projects, as well as the transformation and provision of technological achievements. Aerospace launch service. The Lijian-1 rocket project also adds a brand-new name card to the Oriental Space Port, which will surely promote the construction of the Oriental Space Port to take a solid step forward.
First Sea Launch! LiJian-1 Y17 Carrier Rocket Successfully Rolls Out of Factory… On August 13, 2026, the LiJian-1 Y17 carrier rocket successfully completed its final assembly and testing at the CAS Aerospace Industrialization Base and passed the factory acceptance review. It is scheduled to launch three satellites in one launch from the waters near Guangdong in the near future.
This mission marks the first sea launch for the LiJian-1 carrier rocket. Sea launches offer flexible launch site selection, adapting to the needs of low-inclination satellite launches, and boast advantages such as higher landing area safety and fewer launch window constraints. It effectively compensates for the limitations of land-based launch sites in terms of orbital coverage, further improving rocket carrying efficiency and mission adaptability. In the future, the LiJian-1 carrier rocket will establish a dual-track launch layout of “monthly scheduled land-based launches and dedicated sea-based launches,” fully responding to the differentiated launch needs of various customers for constellation networking and satellite replenishment .
First-ever sea launch! The Lijian-1 Y17 carrier rocket successfully completed its final assembly and testing at the CAS Space Industrialization Base and passed the factory acceptance review. It is scheduled to launch three satellites in one launch from the waters near Guangdong in the near future
The Lijian-1 Y17 carrier rocket completed its final assembly and testing at the CAS Space Industrialization Base on August 13, 2026, and successfully passed the factory acceptance review. It is scheduled to carry out a “one rocket, three satellites” launch mission in the waters near Guangdong in the near future . This will be the first time that the Lijian-1 carrier rocket has carried out a sea launch mission .
Mission Highlights
Launch method : First sea launch, which allows for more flexible selection of launch sites compared to land launch, adapts to the needs of low-inclination satellites, and offers higher landing area safety and fewer launch window constraints.
Number of satellites : 3 satellites in one launch.
Subsequent deployment : The Lijian-1 will construct a dual-track parallel mode of “land-based monthly flight-based launch and sea-based mobile special launch” to meet the differentiated needs of constellation networking and satellite network replenishment.
To date, the Lijian-1 series rockets have launched 15 times, successfully sending 110 satellites into space with a total payload mass exceeding 16 tons. It is the only domestically produced commercial rocket model to have launched more than 100 satellites.
深蓝航天 Deep Blue Limited – Deep Blue AerospaceLandspace One of sixty Chinese private space Carrier Rocket Companies in China-People’s Republic of China… As many of sixty plus Private Rocket Deep Blue Aerospace Co., Ltd. was established in 2017. The company is mainly a high-tech aerospace enterprise that focuses on the direction of liquid recovery and reusable launch vehicles and provides users with commercial launch services. Deep Blue Aerospace Co., Ltd. is headquartered in Nantong City, Jiangsu Province. At the same time, the company has rocket general and liquid engine R&D centers in Yizhuang, Beijing and Xi’an, Shaanxi, respectively, and a rocket power system test base in Tongchuan, Shaanxi…..
The Zhuque-3 Y2 carrier rocket, developed by LandSpace, is a large, reusable liquid oxygen and methane rocket made of stainless steel. Originally scheduled for launch on the morning of August 11, 2026, from the Jiuquan Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Test Zone, its core mission is to insert the payload into orbit and attempt a vertical soft landing and recovery of its first stage on land. If successful, it will become China’s first privately developed liquid rocket to achieve orbital-stage, first-stage, land-based recovery.
The launch was originally scheduled for August 11th, from 7:37 AM to 8:14 AM. However, the night before launch (around 8 PM on August 10th), the Long March 7A carrier rocket experienced a flight anomaly and mission failure during the launch of the Zhongxing-4B satellite from Wenchang. In accordance with China’s aerospace industry’s “learning from experience and applying it to other situations” quality management system, a risk assessment was required across the entire industry. The Zhuque-3 Y2 rocket was therefore postponed. Thunderstorms at the first-stage landing site (Minqin, Gansu) were also a contributing factor. Currently, the rocket remains standing at the launch pad, not yet moved back to the factory, and is in a standby state.
The latest launch window is August 13, 2026, and LandSpace has not yet officially announced a new exact launch date. Multiple industry sources point to August 19 (Chinese Valentine’s Day) or August 31 as potential launch windows, but these are not official announcements. The exact time will depend on LandSpace’s official announcement and airspace control notices.
Mission Background and Highlights: The Zhuque-3 Y1 rocket successfully entered orbit in December 2025, but failed to achieve a soft landing due to abnormal combustion at an altitude of approximately 4,000 meters during the recovery phase. The Y2 rocket addressed this issue by redesigning the technology, focusing on upgrades to thermal protection, flight control algorithms, grid fins, and the engine’s low-altitude restart strategy. The rocket is 76.6 meters long, has a liftoff thrust of approximately 900 tons, a low-Earth orbit payload capacity exceeding 20 tons, and its first stage is designed for at least 20 reuses. If this recovery is successful, LandSpace plans to attempt its first recoverable and reusable flight in the fourth quarter of 2026, establishing a commercial closed loop of “launch-recovery-re-flight
I. Task Delay and Latest Status
Original plan : Zhuque-3 Y2 was originally scheduled to launch from 7:37 to 8:14 on August 11, 2026, at the 96B launch site of the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Test Zone of Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The first stage was planned to perform a vertical soft landing at the Minqin Land Recovery Site in Gansu, about 390 kilometers away from the launch site.
Confirmed Postponement : On the morning of August 11, multiple sources confirmed that the launch mission had been postponed. The rocket remains at the launch pad and has not yet been moved back to the factory; it is in a standby state.
Speculation on the new window : The official date has not yet been announced. Industry media and enthusiasts speculate that the window may point to August 19th or August 31st, but these are not official confirmations. The final date will depend on official announcements from LandSpace and airspace control notices.
II. Core Mission Objective: To achieve “orbit insertion + primary stage recovery”
Verifying First-Stage Recovery : The core highlight of this mission is not orbital insertion, but the vertical recovery test of the first stage. If the recovery is successful, Zhuque-3 will become the first liquid rocket in China to achieve land recovery of the orbital-level first stage using landing legs, and LandSpace will become the first private company to successfully complete the entire chain of “launch-to-orbit + first-stage recovery”.4
Lessons Learned and Improvements from the First Long-Range Rocket Launch: The first long-range rocket made its maiden flight in December 2025, successfully entering orbit. Its first stage completed the entire process from reentry and deceleration to attitude adjustment and final powered descent, landing only 40 meters from the target. However, a delayed engine ignition sequence caused the tail section to burn, preventing it from landing properly. The second long-range rocket…
III. Direct Reason for the Delay: The Failure of the Long March 7A amphibious assault triggered an industry-wide investigation.
Industry shaken : On the evening of August 10, the Long March 7A carrier rocket experienced an anomaly during the launch of the Zhongxing-4B satellite from Wenchang, resulting in mission failure.@ZhejiangOnline2758
A mechanism for learning from one incident and applying it to others : According to China’s aerospace quality management regulations, any rocket malfunction must trigger a comprehensive investigation. The Zhuque-3 rocket, for example, needs to complete checks on flight control logic and anomaly handling.
Beijing Zhongke Aerospace Exploration Technology Co., Ltd. is the first domestic aerospace enterprise with mixed ownership, and it is also the target enterprise that Oriental Aerospace Port focuses on introducing. Relying on the scientific research strength and resource advantages of the Institute of Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Aerospace Flight Technology Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Aerospace Science and Technology has been committed to the research and development and integration of space technology and aerospace vehicles as a platform for the transformation of major national scientific research projects, as well as the transformation and provision of technological achievements. Aerospace launch service. The Lijian-1 rocket project also adds a brand-new name card to the Oriental Space Port, which will surely promote the construction of the Oriental Space Port to take a solid step forward.
Lijian-1 Y18 Carrier Rocket Successfully Rolls Off Factory On July 31, the Lijian-1 Y18 carrier rocket successfully completed its final assembly and testing at the CAS Aerospace Industrialization Base and passed the factory acceptance review. It is scheduled to launch nine satellites in one launch from the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Test Zone in the near future.
On July 31, the Long March 1-1 Y18 carrier rocket successfully completed its final assembly and testing at the CAS Space Industrialization Base and passed the factory review. It is scheduled to carry out a “one rocket, nine satellites” launch mission in the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Test Zone in the near future .
From April to July this year , the Lijian-1 rocket maintained a stable pace of “launching every month,” and a routine, high- density launch operation pattern has been fully established. Following the successful launch of five satellites with one rocket by the Lijian-1 Y15 carrier rocket on July 24, the Lijian-1 Y18 carrier rocket rolled off the production line just one week later, further accelerating the batch production and delivery process . Relying on a pulsed production system and reliable technical solutions, the model continues to strengthen its batch delivery capabilities, continuously improve its scheduled launch support system, and solidify its foundation for large-scale commercial spaceflight capacity .
To date, the Lijian-1 carrier rocket has launched 15 times, successfully sending 110 satellites into space with a total payload mass exceeding 16 tons. It is the only domestically produced commercial rocket model to have launched more than 100 satellites.
The LiJian-1 Y18 carrier rocket has completed final assembly and testing and passed factory acceptance. It is scheduled to carry out a “one rocket, nine satellites” launch mission in the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Test Zone in the near future. This will be the 16th flight mission of this type of rocket.
Developed by CAS Space Technology, this rocket employs a four-stage solid rocket motor tandem configuration. It is 30 meters long, has a liftoff mass of 135 tons, and a payload capacity of 1.5 tons to a 500-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit. The first-stage engine boasts the largest propellant load and thrust among domestically operated large solid rocket motors, with a liftoff thrust exceeding 200 tons, enabling rapid launch from both land and sea.
To date, the Lijian-1 series rockets have completed 15 launches, successfully sending 110 satellites into space, with a total payload mass exceeding 16 tons. It is the only domestically produced commercial rocket model to have launched over 100 satellites. From April to July this year, the rocket maintained a high-density launch schedule, with launches every month. Following the successful launch of five satellites with the Y15 rocket on July 24th, the Y18 rocket rolled off the production line just one week later, significantly improving its mass production and delivery capabilities
I. Current Status of the Y18 Rocket
Factory Delivery and Review : On July 31, 2026, the Lijian-1 Y18 carrier rocket successfully completed its final assembly and testing at the Zhongke Aerospace Guangzhou Nansha Industrialization Base and passed the factory delivery review.1
Launch plan : A “one rocket, nine satellites” launch mission is planned to be carried out in the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Test Zone in the near future.1
Pace Comparison : Following the successful launch of five satellites with a single rocket on July 24, the Y18 rocket was successfully delivered just one week later, significantly accelerating the batch production and delivery speed
II. Cumulative Achievements and Milestones
Total launches : To date, the Lijian-1 rocket has launched 15 times, successfully sending 110 satellites into space, with a total payload mass of over 16 tons.
The only civilian-commercial rocket to have launched over 100 satellites : The Lijian-1 is the only civilian-commercial rocket model in China to have launched over 100 satellites in total.5
Market position : With its mature multi-satellite launch configuration and precise separation technology, the Lijian-1 rocket holds the record for the highest number of multi-satellite launches by a commercial rocket (26 satellites in one launch), and has the highest market share.
III. The Regularized Pattern of “Launches Every Month”
High-frequency rhythm : From April to July 2026, the Lijian-1 rocket will maintain a stable rhythm of “launching every month”, and a normalized high-density launch operation pattern will be fully formed.5
Production capacity support : Zhongke Aerospace adopts a pulsed, rhythmic production mode, shortening the final assembly and testing cycle to 1 month, and has the capacity to produce more than 10 rockets per year, with a subsequent goal of producing 30 rockets per year.
Launch site efficiency : Relying on the dedicated workstations in the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Test Zone, the launch site test and launch cycle has been reduced to 10 days, achieving truly “flight-like” operation.
