BEIJING: China’s Long March 12, capable of sending bigger satellites with more functionalities into the Earth’s orbit, is expected to make its debut flight in 2024, in a year of record launch missions for the country, state media reported on Monday (Feb 26).
Propelled by six liquid oxygen-kerosene-fueled engines, the Long March 12 will be able to transport a payload of 10,000kg to a low-Earth orbit, according to the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, a subsidiary of China’s main space contractor.
That means the Long March 12 would be able to transport half a dozen large communication satellites into orbit on one mission, putting it almost in the same category as the heaviest variant of the Long March 3, which is used to launch the satellites of China’s homegrown BeiDou navigation system.
A small-lift rocket carries payloads of up to 2,000kg, while medium ones deliver up to 20,000kg and heavy rockets can carry payloads in excess of 20,000kg, capable of sending probes to other planets.