by CASC (China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp.)CN
Demonstrate first-stage booster reusability and reduce launch costs for Chinese smallsat and midsat missions.
Maiden flight Dec 23, 2025 reached orbit; booster landing failed. Second flight planned Oct 2026.
Updated 23 Dec 2025Checked 11 Oct0 updates this week
Methalox is cheaper than hydrolox, easier to store than hydrogen, and allows propulsive landing.
Seven Longyun-70 engines on first stage; one or more loss still allows controlled landing.
First stage uses engine thrust to slow descent and land vertically, enabling reuse.
| Spec | Long March 12A |
|---|---|
| Height | 69 mR (reported) |
| Diameter | 3.8 mR (reported) |
| Payload to LEO (expendable mode) | 9,000 kgR (reported) |
| Payload to LEO (reusable mode) | 6,000 kgR (reported) |
| First-stage engines | 7 Longyun-70 methalox enginesR (reported) |
R reported by the company
| Spec | Long March 12A | ArianeGroup / Arianespace Ariane 6 | Skyroot Aerospace Vikram-1 | CASC (China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp.) Long March 10 | LandSpace Zhuque-3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Height | 69 mR (reported) | 93 mR (reported) | 20 mR (reported) | 92.5 mR (reported) | 76.6 mR (reported) |
| Diameter | 3.8 mR (reported) | 5.4 mR (reported) | 1.7 mR (reported) | 5 mR (reported) | 4.5 mR (reported) |
R reported by the company
CASC (China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp.)
Long March rockets, Chinese space program, Mengzhou crew spacecraft
CASC, China's primary space contractor since 1999, develops Long March rockets, Tiangong station, Beidou navigation and crewed spacecraft across 8 major R&D complexes.
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