China inaugurates its first commercial launch site with the maiden flight of LM 12
China's Long March-12 carrier rocket had a successful launch from the Hainan commercial space launch site on Saturday night, deploying test satellites into orbit. This first launch represents a notable achievement for China's space program, especially within the commercial sector.
TroibNews 
China's Long March-12 carrier rocket successfully took off from the Hainan commercial space launch site on Saturday night, deploying test satellites into orbit. This inaugural flight represents a significant achievement for China's space program, especially in the commercial domain.
Built and operational in just 878 days, the Hainan commercial space launch site faced considerable challenges for its first mission, including a new launch pad, rocket, operational procedures, and team.
The launch utilized a remote firing control system, with ground control equipment centralized in the control building and launch commands issued from a second control hall at the site.
The second launch pad, which facilitated this initial mission, is notable as China's first general-purpose medium-sized liquid launch pad. It is capable of accommodating nearly 20 types of rockets with diameters ranging from 3.35 to 5 meters.
Employing a "three-flat" rapid processing method, the pad allows for horizontal assembly, testing, and transportation, which streamlines launch operations.
Following a launch, the rocket transfer pad can be prepared for subsequent missions in as little as three days and returned to its pre-launch condition within seven days.
The Long March-12 carrier rocket is distinguished as China's first liquid-fueled launch vehicle with a diameter of 4 meters.
With a two-stage design, it stands approximately 62 meters tall and has a launch mass of about 430 tonnes. The rocket offers a low-earth orbit payload capacity of at least 12 tonnes and a capacity of no less than 6 tonnes for a 700-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit, making it China's most powerful two-stage single-core rocket.
Additionally, the rocket can be configured to accommodate satellite fairings with diameters of 5.2 meters or 4.2 meters, enabling the launch of single or multiple satellites into various orbits as required by mission specifications.
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this report for TROIB News
Built and operational in just 878 days, the Hainan commercial space launch site faced considerable challenges for its first mission, including a new launch pad, rocket, operational procedures, and team.
The launch utilized a remote firing control system, with ground control equipment centralized in the control building and launch commands issued from a second control hall at the site.
The second launch pad, which facilitated this initial mission, is notable as China's first general-purpose medium-sized liquid launch pad. It is capable of accommodating nearly 20 types of rockets with diameters ranging from 3.35 to 5 meters.
Employing a "three-flat" rapid processing method, the pad allows for horizontal assembly, testing, and transportation, which streamlines launch operations.
Following a launch, the rocket transfer pad can be prepared for subsequent missions in as little as three days and returned to its pre-launch condition within seven days.
The Long March-12 carrier rocket is distinguished as China's first liquid-fueled launch vehicle with a diameter of 4 meters.
With a two-stage design, it stands approximately 62 meters tall and has a launch mass of about 430 tonnes. The rocket offers a low-earth orbit payload capacity of at least 12 tonnes and a capacity of no less than 6 tonnes for a 700-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit, making it China's most powerful two-stage single-core rocket.
Additionally, the rocket can be configured to accommodate satellite fairings with diameters of 5.2 meters or 4.2 meters, enabling the launch of single or multiple satellites into various orbits as required by mission specifications.
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this report for TROIB News
