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Launch Vehicles
Vehicle family profile

Long March 12A

长征十二号甲

Family-level launch record combining canonical variants, historical missions, public cadence forecasts, and available payload performance specs.

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. (CASC)Active
Admin
Variants
1
Canonical variants linked to this family.
Historical missions
1
Missions in the public mission table with actual launch dates.
Peak listed capacity
12,000 kg
Maximum payload capacity across listed variants and orbits.

Launch Cadence

Historical missions are grouped by actual launch year. Forecast cadence uses family-level launch-rate rows.

YearHistorical missionsForecast launches
202510
202601
202701
202801
202901
203001
203101
203201
203301
203401
203501
203601
203701
203801
203901
204001
204101

Performance Specs

Payload capacity by variant and target orbit when structured capacity rows are available.

VariantOrbitCapacityAltitudeInclinationSource
Long March 12A
LEO12,000 kgUnknownUnknownchinese_launch_vehicle_chart_normalized.xlsx (manual screenshot transcription; extraction date 2026-06-02 UTC)
Long March 12A
SSO7,300 kg700 kmUnknownChina in Space Long March 12A capacity report
Long March 12A
SSO7,000 kg700 kmUnknown

Recent Missions

Latest launched missions using variants in this family.

MissionVariantLaunch
Dummy payload
Long March 12A
Dec 23, 2025

Forecasted Missions

Upcoming mission rows with announced launch timing.

MissionVariantAnnounced

No forecasted missions

No upcoming announced mission rows are linked to this vehicle family.

Variants

Canonical variants rolled up into this launch vehicle family.

VariantStagesMissionsStatus
Long March 12A
Not stated1Active

Forecast Location Split

1 launch location represented.

YearLocationLaunchesConfidenceBasis
2026Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center130%Catalog-completeness placeholder for active Long March 12A family; not used by latest forecast capacity snapshot.
2027Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center130%Catalog-completeness placeholder for active Long March 12A family; not used by latest forecast capacity snapshot.
2028Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center130%Catalog-completeness placeholder for active Long March 12A family; not used by latest forecast capacity snapshot.
2029Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center130%Catalog-completeness placeholder for active Long March 12A family; not used by latest forecast capacity snapshot.
2030Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center130%Catalog-completeness placeholder for active Long March 12A family; not used by latest forecast capacity snapshot.
2031Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center130%Catalog-completeness placeholder for active Long March 12A family; not used by latest forecast capacity snapshot.
2032Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center130%Catalog-completeness placeholder for active Long March 12A family; not used by latest forecast capacity snapshot.
2033Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center130%Catalog-completeness placeholder for active Long March 12A family; not used by latest forecast capacity snapshot.
2034Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center130%Catalog-completeness placeholder for active Long March 12A family; not used by latest forecast capacity snapshot.
2035Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center130%Catalog-completeness placeholder for active Long March 12A family; not used by latest forecast capacity snapshot.
2036Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center130%Catalog-completeness placeholder for active Long March 12A family; not used by latest forecast capacity snapshot.
2037Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center130%Catalog-completeness placeholder for active Long March 12A family; not used by latest forecast capacity snapshot.
2038Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center130%Catalog-completeness placeholder for active Long March 12A family; not used by latest forecast capacity snapshot.
2039Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center130%Catalog-completeness placeholder for active Long March 12A family; not used by latest forecast capacity snapshot.
2040Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center130%Catalog-completeness placeholder for active Long March 12A family; not used by latest forecast capacity snapshot.
2041Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center130%Catalog-completeness placeholder for active Long March 12A family; not used by latest forecast capacity snapshot.
Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2026 · 30% confidence
1

Catalog-completeness placeholder for active Long March 12A family; not used by latest forecast capacity snapshot.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2027 · 30% confidence
1

Catalog-completeness placeholder for active Long March 12A family; not used by latest forecast capacity snapshot.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2028 · 30% confidence
1

Catalog-completeness placeholder for active Long March 12A family; not used by latest forecast capacity snapshot.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2029 · 30% confidence
1

Catalog-completeness placeholder for active Long March 12A family; not used by latest forecast capacity snapshot.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2030 · 30% confidence
1

Catalog-completeness placeholder for active Long March 12A family; not used by latest forecast capacity snapshot.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2031 · 30% confidence
1
chinese_launch_vehicle_chart_normalized.xlsx (manual screenshot transcription; extraction date 2026-06-02 UTC)
Long March 12A
LEO6,000 kgUnknownUnknownchinese_launch_vehicle_chart_normalized.xlsx (manual screenshot transcription; extraction date 2026-06-02 UTC)
Long March 12A
SSO3,000 kg500 kmUnknownchinese_launch_vehicle_chart_normalized.xlsx (manual screenshot transcription; extraction date 2026-06-02 UTC)
Track

Catalog-completeness placeholder for active Long March 12A family; not used by latest forecast capacity snapshot.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2032 · 30% confidence
1

Catalog-completeness placeholder for active Long March 12A family; not used by latest forecast capacity snapshot.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2033 · 30% confidence
1

Catalog-completeness placeholder for active Long March 12A family; not used by latest forecast capacity snapshot.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2034 · 30% confidence
1

Catalog-completeness placeholder for active Long March 12A family; not used by latest forecast capacity snapshot.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2035 · 30% confidence
1

Catalog-completeness placeholder for active Long March 12A family; not used by latest forecast capacity snapshot.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2036 · 30% confidence
1

Catalog-completeness placeholder for active Long March 12A family; not used by latest forecast capacity snapshot.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2037 · 30% confidence
1

Catalog-completeness placeholder for active Long March 12A family; not used by latest forecast capacity snapshot.

Mentions
194
All verified mentions of this launch vehicle family in source documents.
0.0-5.0
Actions

The CZ-12A rocket was launched today.

PlanValue 1.8Dec 23, 2025The CZ-12A launched today was originally the 100km hopper + newly built second stage. That's the reason why the color is different with the first & second stage. via SpaceLens

The CZ-12A launched on the specified day includes a 100km hopper and a newly built second stage.

Capability
Page4of10
Plan
Value 4.0
Dec 23, 2025
Video

CZ-12A will attempt a stage landing.

PlanCapabilityValue 2.6Dec 23, 2025T-1H of the CZ-12A's maiden launch & t stage landing attemp. via Douyin/Tommy

The landing of Long March 12A failed.

PlanValue 1.5Dec 23, 2025RT by @AJ_FI: Long March 12A reaches orbit in first reusable launch attempt, but landing fails https://spacenews.com/long-march-12a-reaches-orbit-in-first-reusable-launch-attempt-but-landing-fails/

The Long March 12A carried no reported satellites into low Earth orbit.

PlanCapabilityValue 2.5Dec 23, 2025Shanghai Academy Debuts Reusable Rocket, Fails Landing Attempt [Long March 12A Y1]

The CZ-12A's maiden launch is scheduled for T-1H.

PlanValue 4.0Dec 23, 2025T-1H of the CZ-12A's maiden launch & t stage landing attemp. via Douyin/Tommy

The Long March 12A experienced a failed reentry and descent attempt.

GeneralPlanValue 2.0Dec 23, 2025The state of this reentry and descent of the Long March 12A is something to behold. But despite this failed attempt, the key point is that Chinese reusable launchers are coming.

The first-stage of the Long March 12A was intended to land in Minqin County, Gansu province.

PlanValue 3.0Dec 23, 2025Shanghai Academy Debuts Reusable Rocket, Fails Landing Attempt [Long March 12A Y1]

The first-stage of the Long March 12A is powered by seven Longyun engines, generating a total of 560 tons of thrust.

CapabilityValue 4.5Dec 23, 2025Shanghai Academy Debuts Reusable Rocket, Fails Landing Attempt [Long March 12A Y1]

The first stage of the CZ-12A is equipped with 9 LY-70s and has a body diameter of 4.2 meters.

CapabilityValue 4.0Dec 23, 2025The CZ-12A also have a full version like the ZQ-3 , with 9 LY-70s of the first stage with 4.2 diameter body. The CZ-12B plan to launch within first half year of 2026. via SpaceLens

A recovery attempt of the first stage of the Long March 12A failed.

PlanCapabilityValue 3.0Dec 23, 2025Satellite imagery of the failed Long March 12A first stage recovery attempt.

The Long March 12A lifted off at 10:00 am China Standard Time on December 23rd, 2025.

PlanGeneralValue 3.5Dec 23, 2025Shanghai Academy Debuts Reusable Rocket, Fails Landing Attempt [Long March 12A Y1]

Key engineering data for reusable launch vehicles was collected during the Long March 12A flight.

CapabilityValue 2.6Dec 23, 2025Shanghai Academy Debuts Reusable Rocket, Fails Landing Attempt [Long March 12A Y1]

The CZ-12A reportedly reached orbit.

CapabilityGeneralValue 2.5Dec 23, 2025Another launch video of CZ-12A. Awaiting official reports, but reportedly reached orbit, first stage landing failed.

The Long March 12A stands 70.4 meters tall and has a diameter of 3.8 meters.

CapabilityValue 4.0Dec 23, 2025Shanghai Academy Debuts Reusable Rocket, Fails Landing Attempt [Long March 12A Y1]

The TE towers at Wenchang can support CZ-12A.

CapabilityValue 4.0Dec 23, 2025The TE towers at Wenchang & JSLC could support CZ-12 & 12A. via SpaceLens

Satellite imagery shows the failed Long March 12A first stage recovery attempt occurred 4.91 kilometers southeast of the landing zone.

GeneralPlanCapabilityValue 3.0Dec 23, 2025Satellite imagery of the failed Long March 12A first stage recovery attempt.

The Long March 12A can carry up to 12,000 kilograms to a 200-kilometer low Earth orbit.

CapabilityValue 4.6Dec 23, 2025Shanghai Academy Debuts Reusable Rocket, Fails Landing Attempt [Long March 12A Y1]

The CZ-12A reportedly reached orbit during its launch.

PlanGeneralValue 2.0Dec 23, 2025Another launch video of CZ-12A. Awaiting official reports, but reportedly reached orbit, first stage landing failed.

Satellite imagery captured the failed recovery attempt of the Long March 12A's first stage.

GeneralValue 3.8Dec 23, 2025Satellite imagery of the failed Long March 12A first stage recovery attempt.