Overview
- The Long March 12B made its maiden launch on Monday, June 1, deploying operational satellites to the Shanghai-led Qianfan (Thousand Sails) broadband constellation while not attempting first-stage recovery, CASC said.
- A separate mission on May 30 used a Long March 2D to place four experimental direct-to-device satellites into orbit to test mobile-phone broadband links and space–ground network integration.
- CASC describes the Long March 12B as a two-stage, single-core vehicle about 72 meters long with nine YF-102R engines and an advertised low-Earth-orbit payload capacity near 20,000 kilograms, and says the design supports future reusability.
- Observers and reporters noted there were no apparent public airspace or maritime notices before the June 1 launch and that initial signs of the flight first appeared on Chinese social media, prompting safety and transparency concerns.
- The flights come as China steps up launch tempo to build multiple megaconstellations and lower orbit costs through reusable rockets, a push that could speed consumer satellite internet but also increase congestion, dual-use risks, and demand for clearer launch norms.