Long March 12
Function | Medium-lift launch vehicle |
---|---|
Manufacturer | Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology |
Country of origin | People's Republic of China |
Size | |
Height | 62 m (203 ft) |
Diameter | 3.8 m (12 ft) |
Mass | 433 t (955,000 lb) |
Stages | 2 |
Capacity | |
Payload to 200 km low Earth orbit | |
Mass | 12,000 kg (26,000 lb) |
Payload to 300 km low Earth orbit | |
Mass | 10,000 kg (22,000 lb) |
Payload to 700 km Sun-synchronous orbit | |
Mass | 6,000 kg (13,000 lb) |
Associated rockets | |
Family | Long March (rocket family) |
Comparable | |
Launch history | |
Status | Operational |
Launch sites | Wenchang Commercial LC-2 |
Total launches | 1 |
Success(es) | 1 |
First flight | 30 November 2024 |
First stage | |
Diameter | 3.8 m (12 ft) |
Powered by | 4 YF-100K |
Maximum thrust | Sea level: 5,000 kN (1,100,000 lbf) |
Propellant | RP-1 / LOX |
Second stage | |
Diameter | 3.8 m (12 ft) |
Powered by | 2 YF-115 |
Maximum thrust | 360 kN (81,000 lbf) |
Propellant | RP-1 / LOX |
The Long March 12 carrier rocket (Chinese: 长征十二号运载火箭), is a Chinese medium-lift launch vehicle built by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology. It is capable of placing at least 10 tonnes of payload in low Earth orbit and at least 6 tonnes in a 700 km Sun-synchronous orbit. Its first launch took place on November 30, 2024 from the commercial pads at the Wenchang Space Launch Site.[1]
List of launches
[edit]Serial Number | Flight number | Date (UTC) | Launch site | Payload | Orbit | Result | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Y1 | 30 November 2024 14:25 |
Wenchang LC-2 | Hulianwang Jishu Shiyan 5A JSW-03 |
LEO | Success | Maiden flight of Long March 12. |
Overview
[edit]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.[1] 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.[2]
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.[3]
See also
[edit]- China National Space Administration
- Comparison of orbital launchers families
- Comparison of orbital launch systems
References
[edit]- ^ a b Jones, Andrew (26 February 2024). "China's 2024 space plans include 100 launches and moon sample return mission". spacenews.com. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
- ^ "长征十二号运载火箭计划今年首飞". 新华网. 2024-02-26.
- ^ Jones, Andrew (29 February 2024). "China to debut new Long March rockets in 2024". space.com. Retrieved 5 March 2024.