A Long March 12 lifted off from Commercial Launch Pad 2 at the Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site at 15:48 China Standard Time (07:48 UTC) on January 19, 2026, heading into low Earth orbit with a group of satellites.

Starting with the January 19, 2026 mission, Commercial Launch Pad 2’s water tower is sponsored by Jiangxi Jovo Energy Co Ltd (Jovo).

The Long March 12 stands 62.6 meters tall on the launchpad and has first- and second-stage diameters of 3.8 meters.

China Satellite Network Group projects up to 13,000 GuoWang satellites could be in operational orbit in the 2030s.

The January 19, 2026 mission was the 5th launch of a Long March 12 vehicle.

Jovo is the believed supplier of the Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site’s coal-based rocket-grade kerosene propellant, in use on missions from the site since December 2025.

After the January 19, 2026 launch, 154 GuoWang spacecraft are in orbit and moving toward their operational orbits.

China Satellite Network Group plans to deploy 3,600 GuoWang satellites per year beginning in 2028.

Two YF-115 engines power the Long March 12 second stage, producing 36 tons of thrust while burning liquid oxygen and rocket-grade kerosene.

Nineteen groups of GuoWang spacecraft have been launched, with nine satellites placed into orbit on the January 19, 2026 Long March 12 flight.

Every Long March 12 launch of GuoWang has carried nine satellites per mission.

GalaxySpace produced the GuoWang spacecraft launched on January 19, 2026 as its second set after the constellation’s seventh group in August 2025.

The Long March 12 has a payload capacity of 6,000 kilograms to a 700-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit.

Wenchang missions using Jovo’s coal-based rocket-grade kerosene began from the site’s two current launch pads following a sizable investment by Jovo late in 2025 into the necessary technology.

The GuoWang satellites use an electric propulsion system for operations above 1,000 kilometers and have a trapezoidal shape with two solar panels for power.

Fully fueled, the Long March 12 is believed to weigh 433,000 kilograms.

The coal-based rocket-grade kerosene used at Wenchang enables more frequent deliveries, easier handling during pre-launch processes, and more stable storage.

The Long March 12 fairing has options for 3.8-, 4.2-, or 5.2-meter diameters depending on mission needs.

China Satellite Network Group plans to deploy 900 GuoWang satellites in 2027.

The process of moving the Long March 12 from its assembly building to testing, preparations on the launch pad, and flight has been shortened to four days.

China Satellite Network Group plans to provide worldwide internet services while prioritizing China-focused services for now.

China Satellite Network Group, a state-owned enterprise wholly backed by the Chinese government, operates the GuoWang constellation.

The January 19, 2026 mission was the 258th Long March vehicle launch from the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology.

Two different satellite variants are believed to be in use for the GuoWang constellation, with a larger variant launched on vehicles like the Long March 5B and smaller variants launched on rockets such as the Long March 12 and Long March 6A.

The January 19, 2026 mission was the 7th orbital launch from China in 2026.

The Long March 12 has a payload capacity of 12,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit.

French President Emmanuel Macron promised to find supplemental funding to ensure military space development.

Shenzhou-23's CZ-2F launcher is expected to follow soon.

Shenzhou-23 has arrived at Jiuquan and will provide emergency backup to the crew currently aboard Tiangong.

Shenzhou-20 landed safely at 0134 UTC today with a patched up debris-damaged window.

An airspace closure notice suggested that the damaged Shenzhou-20 crew spacecraft would attempt reentry and landing between 0120-0150 UTC on January 19, 2026.

A Long March 3B lifted off from Xichang at 1655 UTC on January 16, 2026, but the Shijian-32 satellite was lost after a third stage anomaly.

China has experienced two launch failures within hours of each other.

The Guowang satellites were developed by the commercial company GalaxySpace.

The debut launch of the solid Ceres-2 from Jiuquan at 0408 UTC on January 17, 2026, also failed.

Crowds witnessed the launch of the Long March 12.

A Long March 12 lifted off from Hainan at 0748 UTC on January 19, 2026, delivering the 19th group of Guowang satellites into orbit.

Shenzhou-20 has landed.

Shenzhou-20 has landed.

The return capsule of Shenzhou-20 looks to be in good shape, according to official sources.

On-site inspections confirmed that the cargo inside the Shenzhou-20 return capsule is in good condition.

On-site inspections confirmed that the overall exterior of the Shenzhou-20 return capsule is in good condition.

The next vehicle stack will need to arrive earlier to reinstate the 'One Launch, One Standby' protocol.

The timeline for Long March 2F Y23 and Shenzhou-23 is expected to move to the left.

The Long March 2F Y23 is scheduled to be delivered to the launch site.

The Shenzhou-23 spacecraft has arrived at Jiuquan.

There is currently no standby Long March 2F at Jiuquan.

The next vehicle stack for Long March 2F Y23 and Shenzhou-23 was originally planned for March 2026.

The Shenzhou-20 return capsule appears in good shape according to an official outlet.

Footage of the Shenzhou-20 returning has been shared.