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China Unveils Long March 12B, Deploys Qianfan Broadband Satellites

6/3/2026

Summary

Story summary

China launched Long March 12B without prior notice on June 1 2026, deploying operational Qianfan broadband megaconstellation satellites.
The state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation launched the two-stage vehicle from Jiuquan’s Dongfeng test zone, which uses nine YF-102R first-stage engines, a YF-102RV vacuum engine, and can lift roughly 20,000 kg to low-Earth orbit.
The flight follows earlier first-stage recovery attempts—Long March 12A and LandSpace’s Zhuque-3—that reached orbit but failed to retrieve their boosters.

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Story summary

China launched Long March 12B without prior notice on June 1 2026, deploying operational Qianfan broadband megaconstellation satellites.
The state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation launched the two-stage vehicle from Jiuquan’s Dongfeng test zone, which uses nine YF-102R first-stage engines, a YF-102RV vacuum engine, and can lift roughly 20,000 kg to low-Earth orbit.
The flight follows earlier first-stage recovery attempts—Long March 12A and LandSpace’s Zhuque-3—that reached orbit but failed to retrieve their boosters.