China Aerospace Science and Technology CorporationLong March 12ALong March 12 series Pad, Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Demo Flight
Launched
December 23, 2025 · 02:00 UTC
Image: CASC
Summary
Demo Flight launched on a China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 12A from Long March 12 series Pad, Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China on December 23, 2025 at 02:00 UTC. The launch window ran from 01:54 to 04:14 UTC. It was China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's 566th launch, 65th this year and humanity's 7,166th orbital launch attempt. It was the 1st Long March 12A flight. Booster LM-12A F1 flew for the 1st time and its landing at Long March 12A Landing Site failed. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO).
- Watch
- No webcast on record.
- Booster
- LM-12A F1 · flight 1 · Vertical Landing at Long March 12A Landing Site · landing failed0/1 landed here · 252 km downrange
- Mission
- Test Flight · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
- Milestone
- 1st Long March 12A flightChina Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's 566th launch65th this yearhumanity's 7,166th orbital launch attempt317th orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
About this launch
First test launch of CASC/SAST’s Long March 12A rocket, with a dummy payload. The rocket’s 1st stage attempted to land on a landing pad about 300 km downrange of the launch site.
Pad
Long March 12 series Pad, Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
1st launch from Long March 12 series Pad, 1st this year · 272nd from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Local pad time at liftoff: Dec 23, 10:00 AM GMT+8, in daylight
2 launches from this pad · 299 from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
under an hour after the previous launch from this pad
All launches from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of ChinaOpen in maps
Updates
Launch success, first stage landing attempt failed.
Show 4 earlier updates
Rescheduled for December 23 per NOTAMs.
Cosmic_Penguin · 12/22/2025 · source
Apparently launch was delayed with rocket requiring roll-back; new information pending.
Cosmic_Penguin · 12/15/2025 · source
NET December 17 per NOTAMs (note that identity of this particular launch is uncertain).
Cosmic_Penguin · 12/12/2025 · source
Added launch.
Cosmic_Penguin · 12/1/2025 · source
Questions
When did Demo Flight launch?
Demo Flight launched on December 23, 2025 at 02:00 UTC. The launch window ran from 01:54 to 04:14 UTC.
Where can I watch Demo Flight?
No webcast is on record for this launch.
What rocket launched Demo Flight?
Long March 12A, flown by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. Long March 12A spec sheet
Where did Demo Flight launch from?
Long March 12 series Pad, Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China. Liftoff was Dec 23, 10:00 AM GMT+8 local time at the pad.
Did the booster land?
Booster LM-12A F1 flew for the 1st time and its landing at Long March 12A Landing Site failed.
What orbit was Demo Flight going to?
Low Earth Orbit (LEO), a test flight mission.