China's Long March 12A Rocket Launches from Jiuquan Spaceport, First Stage Reentry Fails
On December 23, 2025, China's Long March 12A rocket successfully launched from the Jiuquan Spaceport, reaching orbit with a test payload. However, the mission marked a setback as the first stage reentry failed due to an engine malfunction, resulting in the stage crashing to the ground. This attempt was part of China's broader initiative to enhance the reusability of its launch systems for low Earth orbit missions.
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On December 23, 2025, at approximately 3:00 AM, the Long March 12A (CZ-12A) launched from the Dongfeng area of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. This launch marked China's second attempt to recover the first stage of an orbital vehicle, but the reentry was unsuccessful, resulting in the first stage crashing to the ground.
However, the rocket successfully reached orbit with a test payload. The failure during reentry was attributed to a malfunction of one of the three engines during the Reentry Burn. The CZ-12A is part of China's efforts to enhance reusability in its launch systems, aiming to reduce costs and increase launch cadence for low Earth orbit missions.
The rocket features a two-stage design with a diameter of 3.8 m and a height of approximately 69 m, employing seven Longyun engines supplied by Jiuzhou Yunjian. The mission infrastructure is expanding with future compatibility planned for Hainan and Haiyang/Oriental Spaceport.
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