China's Long March 12 Rocket Completes Maiden Flight, Inaugurates Hainan Spaceport

Nov 30, 2024, 03:02 PM

China's Long March 12 rocket successfully completed its maiden flight on Saturday night, marking a significant milestone in the country's space program. The launch also inaugurated the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Center, China's first spaceport dedicated to commercial operations, located in Wenchang City, Hainan Province. This debut mission showcased the Long March 12, China's first single-core stage liquid launch vehicle with a diameter of 3.8 meters, powered by six liquid oxygen/kerosene engines. The rocket carried two payloads: the Satellite Internet Technology Test Satellite and the Technology Test Satellite 03.