On CNSA –China National Space Administration …. ChangZheng Long March 12 Reusable Carrier r flight rocket …. Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Test Zone JiuquanSatelliteLaunchCenter, Inner Mongolia, China, People’s Republic of China At 10:00 AM on December 23 2025 Beijing time, China successfully launched a Long March 12A rocket from the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Test Zone. The second stage of the rocket entered its predetermined orbit, but the first stage failed to be recovered. The specific cause is under further analysis and investigation.
[Reusable Launch Vehicle Long March 12A Launched into Orbit]
The Long March 12A is a liquid oxygen-methane launch vehicle with “reusable first stage” as its core feature. The rocket is approximately 70.4 meters long, with both the first and second stages having a diameter of 3.8 meters, a fairing diameter of 4.2 meters, and a takeoff weight of approximately 437 tons.
Although this mission did not achieve the predetermined goal of first stage recovery, it obtained key engineering data under actual flight conditions, laying an important foundation for subsequent launches and reliable stage recovery. The research and development team will conduct a comprehensive review and technical re-evaluation of this test process as soon as possible, make every effort to identify the cause of the failure, continuously optimize the recovery plan, and continue to advance reusability verification.
Images and visuals are from their Respectives CMS China Manned SpaceCNSA-China National Space Administration
