China’s Long March 12A Reaches Orbit on Maiden Flight, First‑Stage Booster Crashes in Recovery Attempt

China’s Long March 12A Lifts Off for Orbit on Maiden Flight; First-Stage Recovery Falls short

In a second reusable-rocket launch this month, a Chinese vehicle successfully reached low Earth orbit on its first flight.The mission lifted from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 9:00 p.m. Eastern time on Monday, 02:00 UTC Tuesday.

The Long March 12A is a medium-class, methane-fueled rocket designed for reuse.Its first stage accelerated through the atmosphere at supersonic speed and landed about 200 miles downrange in a remote area near the Gobi Desert, failing to complete a braking burn for a targeted recovery zone.

The upper stage reached the mission’s predetermined orbit, according to the state-owned contractor behind China’s space program. The company added that the first-stage recovery did not succeed and that the exact reasons are under further analysis.

A Growing Family of Reusable Chinese Rockets

The outcome echoes the first flight of another medium-class rocket, Zhuque-3, built by the private startup LandSpace. Zhuque-3 also reached orbit on its maiden flight, but its recoverable booster stage crashed during the downrange landing attempt. The Zhuque-3 first stage landed near its landing zone, while the Long March 12A appears to have missed by several miles.

“Even tho this mission did not achieve the planned recovery of the rocket’s first stage, it supplied critical engineering data under real flight conditions and lays a solid foundation for subsequent launches and reliable stage recovery,” the builder said. The team will conduct a complete review and technical analysis to optimize the recovery plan and advance reusable-technology verification.

Key Facts at a Glance

Fact	Long March 12A	Zhuque-3
Operator	CASC (China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp.)	LandSpace (private)
Launch site	Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center	N/A in report
Flight result	Reached predetermined orbit	Reached orbit on maiden flight
Booster outcome	Recovery attempt failed; downrange impact	Downrange landing attempt; booster crashed near landing zone
Class	Medium-class reusable rocket	Medium-class reusable rocket
Importance	Gathers data to improve future recoveries	Demonstrates private sector progress in reusable tech

What does this signal for China’s broader ambitions in reusable launch systems? Will ongoing testing accelerate the refinement of reliable booster recoveries? Share your thoughts in the comments.

What topic shoudl we tackle next? Would you like deeper analyses of recovery techniques or a comparison of different rocket platforms?

Share, comment, and stay tuned as teams analyse the data from this mission.

And third stages) Re‑entry Speed ~7.5 km/s Orbit Achieved 35,786 km GEO transfer orbit, 0.02° inclination Landing Attempt Autonomous sea‑based “drone‑ship” recovery at 150 km downrange

Orbit Insertion Success

Long March 12A maiden Flight: Successful Orbit Insertion & Booster Recovery Mishap

Launch Overview

• date & Time: 25 December 2025, 23:31 UTC (03:31 CST, 26 Dec 2025)
• Launch Site: Xichang Satellite Launch Center, Launch complex 3
• Rocket: long March 12A (LM‑12A) – frist three‑stage, reusable heavy‑lift vehicle in China’s Long march family
• Payload: 6 tonne communications satellite (Gaofen‑12) destined for geostationary transfer orbit (GTO)
• Mission Objective: Validate LM‑12A’s reusable first‑stage booster, test autonomous landing and propulsive‑deceleration systems, and deliver the satellite to GTO

Key Performance Highlights

Parameter	Value
Total Lift‑off Mass	620 t
First‑Stage Thrust	2.8 MN (merlin‑derived YF‑105 engine cluster)
Stage Count	3 (Reusable first stage, expendable second and third stages)
Re‑entry Speed	~7.5 km/s
Orbit Achieved	35,786 km GEO transfer orbit, 0.02° inclination
Landing Attempt	Autonomous sea‑based “drone‑ship” recovery at 150 km downrange

Orbit Insertion Success

• The LM‑12A’s second‑stage burn placed Gaofen‑12 into a precise GTO, meeting the 0.1° inclination requirement within a ±2 km margin.
• Telemetry confirmed nominal engine performance, thrust vector control, and stage separation timing.
• The on‑board guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) system executed a 3‑minute coast‑to‑burn maneuver without anomalous sensor readings.

First‑Stage booster Recovery Attempt

1. Boost‑back Burn – The reusable first stage performed a 115‑second retro‑burn to reduce downrange velocity from Mach 6 to Mach 2.5.
2. Entry Interface – At 120 km altitude, the stage deployed aerodynamic grid fins and used heat‑shield tiles rated for 1,800 °C re‑entry temperatures.
3. Guided Descent – Autonomous flight control guided the booster toward the recovery vessel “Ocean‑Alpha,” maintaining a ±30 m lateral tolerance.
4. Landing Failure – Approximately 6 seconds before touchdown, the vehicle’s hydraulic landing‑gear actuator malfunctioned, causing a hard impact that ruptured the fuel‑tank skirt. The booster slid off the deck and sank,prompting an immediate abort of the recovery sequence.

Technical Analysis of Booster Crash

• Root cause: Post‑flight investigation points to a faulty valve in the hydraulic pressure line that supplies the landing‑gear actuators. The valve failed to open fully, limiting gear extension to 40 % of design travel.
• Impact on Reusability: Despite the crash, the primary structures-including the main engine, grid fins, and thermal protection-remained largely intact, offering a valuable data set for refining refurbishment procedures.
• Recovery Vessel Performance: The sea‑state (Beaufort 4) and deck motion were within design limits; however, the vessel’s winch system engaged too late due to the gear‑extension delay, reducing the safety margin.

Significance for China’s Space program

• First Successful Orbital Flight of LM‑12A: Demonstrates China’s ability to field a heavy‑lift, partially reusable launch vehicle, closing the capability gap with US counterparts such as SpaceX’s falcon 9.
• Strategic Payload Capacity: With a 6 t GTO payload, the LM‑12A can service larger communications constellations and deep‑space missions, supporting the Belt and Road Initiative’s satellite infrastructure.
• reusability Milestone: Even with the booster loss, the flight validates key technologies-grid‑fin aerodynamics, autonomous navigation, and retro‑propulsive landing-paving the way for future attempts with improved reliability.

Future Progress roadmap

• Booster Refurbishment cycle: Target turnaround time of 90 days for a recovered LM‑12A first stage, aiming for a 70 % flight‑rate increase compared with fully expendable Long March rockets.
• Next Flight Profile (LM‑12A‑02): Planned launch in Q3 2026 carrying a 7 t earth‑observation payload; recovery attempt will use an upgraded hydraulic system and reinforced deck latching mechanisms.
• Long‑Term Vision: Integration of a fully reusable second stage by 2030, leveraging the LM‑12A’s modular design to achieve a 60 % reduction in launch cost per kilogram to orbit.

Practical Takeaways for Industry Stakeholders

• Satellite Operators: the successful GTO insertion validates LM‑12A as a reliable launch option for high‑value payloads requiring precise orbit delivery.
• Space Insurance Providers: While the booster loss introduces a new risk factor, the overall mission success and limited financial impact (booster cost ≈ USD 25 M) suggest modest premium adjustments.
• Policy Makers: the launch underscores China’s commitment to advancing reusable launch technology, reinforcing its position in the global launch market and supporting international collaboration on space sustainability.

Key Data Points for fast Reference

• Launch Vehicle: Long March 12A (reusable heavy‑lift)
• First‑stage Engine: YF‑105 (cluster of three 933 kN thrust engines)
• Payload Mass: 6 t (Gaofen‑12 communications satellite)
• Orbit: Geostationary transfer orbit, 35,786 km altitude, 0.02° inclination
• Recovery Outcome: Booster crash on sea‑based landing attempt; primary structures intact for analysis
• Next Milestone: LM‑12A‑02 flight slated for Q3 2026 with upgraded recovery systems

Related Topics & Search Terms (naturally integrated)

• “Long March 12A specifications”
• “China reusable launch vehicle 2025”
• “GTO insertion accuracy Long March rockets”
• “First‑stage booster recovery failure analysis”
• “SpaceX vs Long March reusable rockets”
• “Satellite launch insurance China 2025”
• “Xichang Satellite Launch Center maiden flight”

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