# Long March 12A

> Chinese reusable medium-lift launch vehicle

**Wikidata**: [Q137163283](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q137163283)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_March_12A)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/long-march-12a

## Summary
The Long March 12A (also known as CZ-12A) is a Chinese reusable medium-lift launch vehicle. Developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, it is part of the Long March 12 series of rockets. Its maiden flight on December 23, 2025, marked China's first attempt at launching and recovering an orbital-class reusable rocket.

## Key Facts
- **Maiden Flight:** December 23, 2025
- **Type:** Reusable medium-lift launch vehicle
- **Country of Origin:** People's Republic of China
- **Developer & Manufacturer:** Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST)
- **Operator:** China National Space Administration
- **Height:** 70.4 meters
- **Diameter:** 3.8 meters
- **Launch Mass:** 437 tonnes
- **Payload to Low Earth Orbit (LEO):** 12,000 kg (in expended mode)
- **Payload to Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO):** 7,300 kg (in expended mode)

## FAQs
### Q: What is the Long March 12A?
A: The Long March 12A is a reusable, medium-lift launch vehicle from the People's Republic of China. It was developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology and is part of the Long March 12 series of rockets.

### Q: Was the first flight of the Long March 12A successful?
A: The maiden flight on December 23, 2025, was partially successful. The rocket successfully reached orbit, but the attempt to land and recover the reusable first stage failed.

### Q: How much can the Long March 12A carry into orbit?
A: In its expended configuration, the Long March 12A can carry a payload of 12,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit (LEO) or 7,300 kilograms to a Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO).

## Why It Matters
The Long March 12A represents a significant step in China's space program and its ambition to develop reusable launch technology. As the country's first attempt at an orbital-class reusable rocket, it is a direct effort to compete with vehicles like SpaceX's Falcon 9, which have dramatically lowered the cost of access to space. The development of reusable rockets is critical for deploying large satellite constellations and conducting more ambitious, frequent, and cost-effective space missions.

While the landing of the first stage failed on its maiden flight, the successful ascent to orbit demonstrated the vehicle's core launch capability. The mission highlights both China's progress in advanced rocketry and the immense technical challenges associated with booster recovery. The Long March 12A's development signals a major strategic shift for the China National Space Administration and its contractors, positioning them to become more competitive in the global commercial launch market.

## Notable For
- **First Reusable Launch Attempt:** The Long March 12A's maiden flight was China's first attempt at launching and recovering an orbital-class reusable rocket booster.
- **Partial Success on Maiden Flight:** On its inaugural launch, the vehicle successfully achieved its primary mission of reaching orbit, though the secondary objective of landing the first stage was not met.
- **Medium-Lift Capability:** It is designed as a medium-lift vehicle capable of placing up to 12 metric tons into low Earth orbit when flown in an expendable configuration.
- **SAST Development:** The rocket was developed and manufactured by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST), a key player in China's space industry.

## Body
### ### Overview and Purpose
The Long March 12A is a Chinese launch vehicle classified as a reusable, medium-lift rocket. It is a subclass of the Long March 12 family of rockets. The vehicle is operated by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and was developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST). Its official designations and aliases include Chang Zheng 12A, CZ-12A, and LM-12A.

### ### Technical Specifications
- **Height:** 70.4 meters
- **Diameter:** 3.8 meters
- **Launch Mass:** 437 tonnes
- **Stages:** The vehicle consists of two stages, designated CZ-12A-1 (first stage) and CZ-12A-2 (second stage).

### ### Performance
The Long March 12A has the following payload capacities when flown in an expendable mode (without recovery of the first stage):
- **Low Earth Orbit (LEO):** 12,000 kg
- **Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO):** 7,300 kg

### ### Launch History
The maiden flight of the Long March 12A took place on December 23, 2025, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China. The launch successfully placed its payload into orbit. However, the attempt to perform a propulsive landing and recover the first stage (CZ-12A-1) failed.

## References

1. [Long March 12A reaches orbit in first reusable launch attempt, but landing fails. SpaceNews. 2025](https://spacenews.com/long-march-12a-reaches-orbit-in-first-reusable-launch-attempt-but-landing-fails/)
2. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau/cz-12.htm)
3. [China's reusable Long March-12A rocket completes maiden flight, enters orbit for basic success: report. Global Times. 2025](https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202512/1351279.shtml)
4. [Source](https://www.china-in-space.com/p/shanghai-academy-debuts-reusable)