China's Long March-12B Rocket Completes First Flight

On June 1, 2026, China launched the reusable Long March‑12B Y1 launch vehicle from the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Pilot Zone in northwest China. The maiden flight placed a tenth batch of Spacesail (Qianfan Constellation) internet satellites into a polar low‑Earth orbit, marking the 647th mission of the Long March series.

Developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Commercial Rocket Co. under the state‑owned CASC, the two‑stage rocket uses kerosene and liquid‑oxygen engines—nine on the first stage and one on the second. Although no booster recovery was attempted, a recovery test is planned for a later flight. With a payload capacity of about 20 tonnes to low‑Earth orbit, the Long March‑12B expands China's commercial launch capabilities.