NEWS
Long March-12 Carrier Rocket Successfully Launches 22nd Group of Low-orbit Internet Satellites
发布时间：
2026-06-22 14:13
At 10:44 on June 17, 2026, the Long March-12 carrier rocket was ignited and lifted off from the Hainan Commercial Spacecraft Launch Site, successfully sending the 22nd group of low-orbit internet satellites into the preset orbit. The launch mission was a complete success.
The Long March-12 Carrier Rocket is a new-generation cryogenic liquid launch vehicle developed under the overall management of SAST. The rocket is also China’s first 4-meter-diameter single-core-stage launch vehicle, with a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) payload capacity of not less than 12 tonnes and a Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO) payload capacity of not less than 6 tonnes at a 700 km altitude. It can be configured with 4.2-meter or 5.2-meter diameter fairings subject to specific mission requirements and supports the launch missions of single or multiple satellites to different orbits.
In this mission, a 5.2-meter-diameter carbon-fiber composite satellite fairing was utilized for the first time on the Long March 12 carrier rocket, significantly reducing its structural weight compared to the previous fiberglass panels. Furthermore, the rocket model achieved effective total weight reduction and enhanced payload capacity by optimizing manufacturing processes for certain structural stages and implementing lightweight replacements for multiple onboard devices and standalone components. The second-stage engine of this rocket utilized high-energy kerosene propellant for the first time in China, offering performance parameters that are substantially higher than those of conventional aerospace kerosene.
During the launch site phase, the project team further optimized the workflow, focusing on identifying and improving various details within critical procedures such as hoisting and auxiliary power propellant fueling. Concurrently, modifications to the propellant loading and pre-launch countdown procedures enhanced operational convenience and launch-test efficiency. To address the numerous variations in technical configurations during this mission, the project team adhered to a strict, cautious, detailed, and pragmatic working style. They conducted multiple rounds of situation re-reviews and status re-confirmations, while thoroughly strengthening technical briefings and joint verifications with relevant stakeholders to ensure all modifications were successfully implemented and effectively validated.
This marks the 6th launch of the Long March-12 Carrier Rocket, the 269th flight test of the Long March series carrier rockets under the lead of SAST, and the 652nd of the Long March series carrier rockets.
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