As the spring of 2026 arrives, China’s business house sector has entered a interval of intensive disclosure of the brand new yr’s launch plans.
On the twelfth, the schedules for the maiden flights of two extremely anticipated launch autos have been formally confirmed. These embody the mainstay of the “national team” and the pioneer of non-public house firms, including new highlights to China’s business house launch missions this yr.
“Long March 12B” to Make Maiden Flight at Jiuquan within the First Half of the Year
Exclusive data obtained by a reporter from Science and Technology Innovation Board Daily reveals that the Long March 12B (CZ – 12B) launch car, developed below the general duty of China Commercial Space Launch Co., Ltd. (hereinafter known as “China Commercial Space”), is scheduled to hold out its first launch mission on the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center within the first half of 2026. This rocket makes use of a full liquid oxygen – kerosene propellant scheme.
The Long March 12B is a brand new – era 4 – meter – class reusable rocket developed to fulfill the business launch wants akin to low – orbit constellation networking in China. It adopts a two – stage configuration and a full liquid oxygen – kerosene energy scheme, with a low – Earth – orbit carrying capability of 20 tons.
Previously, on January 16, 2026, the rocket accomplished a full – scale static firing check on the R & D, testing, and launch station of China Commercial Space within the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Experimental Area. It comprehensively simulated your complete course of of fueling, ignition, and timing management earlier than an actual launch, verifying the feasibility and reliability of the design of every system on the rocket.
It is price noting that the Long March 12 collection of rockets have at present fashioned a multi – mannequin structure with differentiated technical routes. Among them, the Long March 12A (CZ – 12A) and the Long March 12B belong to totally different growth entities, with clear distinctions in technical paths and positioning.
The reporter from Science and Technology Innovation Board Daily observed that the Long March 12A, developed below the general duty of the Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, is a liquid oxygen – methane launch car with the core function of “first – stage reusability”. It can also be a recoverable mannequin developed on the idea of the Long March 12 launch car.
The rocket is about 70.4 meters lengthy, with a diameter of 3.8 meters for each the primary and second levels, and a fairing diameter of 4.2 meters. Its take – off weight is about 437 tons. Different from conventional rockets, the Long March 12A has applied the idea of reusability for the reason that design stage. The core elements akin to the primary – stage rocket physique and engine are developed based on the 50 – reuse normal, laying the inspiration for lengthy – time period low – value operation.
On the morning of December 23, 2025, the Long March 12A (CZ – 12A) launch car efficiently accomplished its maiden flight mission and achieved the objective of second – stage orbit insertion. However, the restoration verification of its first – stage rocket didn’t obtain the anticipated outcomes. As China’s second liquid oxygen – methane launch car to aim restoration on its maiden flight, this mission has accrued useful knowledge and sensible expertise for the following iterative optimization of related applied sciences.
China Commercial Space, the general developer of the Long March 12B this time, is the core entity of the business structure of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. Business registration data and official knowledge present that the corporate was established on September 26, 2024, with a registered capital of 1.396 billion yuan. It is the working entity for the event of business rockets and home business launch companies of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, in addition to the innovation entity in phrases of expertise, administration, and fashions within the business house sector. It is dedicated to offering “one – stop” launch companies and world – class flight – like transport rockets for international prospects.
On the morning of January 27, China Commercial Space held its 2026 annual work assembly to plan and deploy key duties for 2026. The assembly emphasised resolutely successful the battle for the maiden flight and restoration of the principle rocket, making each effort to interrupt by means of reusable applied sciences, and effectively fulfilling the mission of business launches to make larger contributions to enhancing China’s capability to entry house on a big – scale and effectively.
“Hyperbola 3” to Be Launched on the End of the Year, Aiming for Breakthroughs in “Orbit Insertion + Sea Recovery”
Meanwhile, the non-public house firm iSpace additionally launched key alerts on the 2026 Shanghai Commercial Space Conference and Exhibition. Xie Hongjun, the deputy normal supervisor of iSpace, stated that the corporate’s reusable Hyperbola 3 (SQX – 3) launch car is predicted to make its first launch on the finish of 2026.
In February this yr, iSpace introduced that it had accomplished the second – stage work of the bottom system joint commissioning on the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site, including one other key assure for the maiden flight mission of the Hyperbola 3 launch car.
In the identical month, iSpace accomplished a D++ spherical of financing, elevating 5.037 billion yuan, setting a brand new document for a single – spherical financing of a Chinese non-public business house firm.
Li Yongpeng, the deputy normal supervisor and board secretary of iSpace, beforehand stated that the Hyperbola 3 is a medium – to – giant – sized reusable liquid launch car with a diameter of 4.2 meters. The rocket has a take – off mass of 490 tons and adopts a two – stage configuration, with the primary stage outfitted with 9 Focus 2 engines. The Focus 2 engine is at present probably the most highly effective and technologically superior reusable liquid oxygen – methane engine below growth in China.
It is price noting that the Hyperbola 3 is deliberate to hold out its maiden flight mission on the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site and can undertake the ocean restoration methodology.
Li Yongpeng advised a reporter from Science and Technology Innovation Board Daily within the second half of 2025 that it’s anticipated that within the subsequent one to 2 years, there will probably be important progress in China’s reusable rockets. With the event of reusable rockets, the state of affairs of “more satellites and fewer rockets” within the subsequent 2 – 3 years could be considerably alleviated.
Currently, China’s business house sector has entered a crucial window interval for giant – scale growth. Public data from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) reveals that China has utilized for greater than 200,000 low – orbit satellite tv for pc frequency and orbital assets. Large – scale constellation networking has created a inflexible demand for low – value, excessive – capability, and excessive – frequency launch companies.
As the launch home windows of these two new rockets are regularly decided, the schedule for China’s business house launches in 2026 is turning into more and more tight. From the primary half of the yr to the tip of the yr, expertise verification and common launches will take turns.
This article is from the WeChat official account “Science and Technology Innovation Daily”, creator: Li Mingming. Republished by 36Kr with permission.