On CNSA –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 approximately 18:00 Beijing time on June 13, 2026, the Long March 12 Y6 carrier rocket and its satellite assembly were horizontally transported to the launch area at the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site assembly facility, with launch scheduled for the near future.
The Long March 12 Y6 carrier rocket and its satellite assembly successfully completed horizontal transport within the assembly plant at the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site at approximately 18:00 on June 13, 2026, and arrived at the launch area. This mission, scheduled for launch soon, will carry out the Xingwang low-Earth orbit (LEO) constellation deployment mission, deploying Xingwang LEO-22A series satellites to support the construction of the national LEO internet constellation. This launch utilizes the basic non-recoverable configuration of the Long March 12 rocket and will not conduct recovery tests, focusing on high-density, high-reliability commercial launch services. Since its successful maiden flight on November 30, 2024, the Long March 12 has achieved 100% success in its first five launches, demonstrating high technological maturity and an expected mission success rate exceeding 99%. This launch marks a crucial step forward for my country’s commercial space program towards routine and large-scale constellation deployment.
On the evening of June 13, 2026, the Long March 12 Y6 carrier rocket and satellite combination were horizontally transported to the launch area at the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site. The launch is scheduled to take place in the coming days. This mission is expected to launch sixteen satellites in one rocket to form a low-Earth orbit internet constellation.
II. Rocket and Mission Details
| project | content |
| rocket model | Long March 12 (CZ-12) Y6, basic non-recoverable configuration |
| Research and development unit | China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Eighth Academy (Shanghai Aerospace) |
| Arrow body parameters | It is approximately 62 meters long and 3.8 meters in diameter, with a two-stage configuration, a takeoff mass of 433 tons, and a takeoff thrust of approximately 510 tons. |
| carrying capacity | The weight should be no less than 12 tons for low Earth orbit and no less than 6 tons for a 700 km sun-synchronous orbit. |
| Launch site | Launch pad No. 2 at Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site |
| Load information | Carrying StarNet’s low-Earth orbit 22a series satellites, it is expected to launch 16 satellites in one go (the official number has not yet been confirmed). |
| nature of the task | Batch launch of low-Earth orbit internet constellations |
III. Technical Features
- The launch site adopts a “three-horizontal” launch mode (horizontal assembly, horizontal testing, and horizontal transport), which shortens the time required to occupy the launch area and allows for launch in as little as 3 days after relocation.
- The first application of tethered release technology: After ignition, the rocket is tethered and released into the air only after all four engines are working properly.
- It features a pioneering 3.8-meter rocket body diameter, achieving the optimal balance between engine quantity and carrying capacity while meeting railway transportation requirements.
- The fairing comes standard with two diameters: 5.2 meters and 4.2 meters, which can be flexibly selected according to the mission.
IV. Current Status
- The rocket has completed its horizontal transfer from the technical area to the launch area, and will then undergo erection, rocket-to-ground connection, and functional testing.1
- The launch site facilities and equipment are in good condition, and the launch is planned to take place when the weather conditions are met.1
- This launch marks the sixth flight of the Long March 12 series rockets, with the previous five all successful, indicating a very high expected mission success rate.
V. Significance of the Launch
- This mission will not conduct recovery tests; the entire focus will be on satellite orbit insertion accuracy and networking efficiency.
- This will provide crucial support for the rapid networking of my country’s low-orbit satellite internet constellation (such as the “Qianfan constellation”), and promote commercial aerospace from the “experimental stage” to the “mass production stage”.
Images and visuals are from their Respectives 追箭部落 CMS China Manned Space CNSA-China National Space Administration
