SpaceX and Chinese launches dominate this week\u2019s launch manifest, which features six missions from five launch sites worldwide. Falcon 9 is scheduled to launch three Starlink missions from SpaceX\u2019s California and Florida launch facilities. In China, a Chang Zheng 12B flew on its debut mission on Monday, with a Chang Zheng 8 and Chang Zheng 6A set to fly unknown payloads later in the week.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Chang Zheng 12B | Demo Flight<\/p>\n
The Chinese Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) debuted its latest launch vehicle, the Chang Zheng 12B (CZ-12B), on Monday, June 1, at 08:40 UTC from the LM-12 pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China. Flying on a southern trajectory out of Jiuquan, CZ-12B successfully delivered its payload of two communication satellites for the Chinese G60 constellation to a polar orbit.<\/p>\n
The CZ-12B is a 72 m tall, 4.37 m wide rocket capable of lofting approximately 20,000 kg to a 200 km low-Earth orbit (LEO) or 12,000 kg to a 500 km Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO). A two-stage rocket, the first stage features nine YF102R engines that produce 7,515 kN of thrust, while the second stage features a single YF-102V engine that generates 835 kN of thrust. Both stages utilize liquid kerosene (RP-1) and liquid oxygen (LOX) propellants. CASC plans for future CZ-12B missions to feature a reusable first stage that is recovered via propulsive landings, similar to SpaceX\u2019s Falcon 9 and Blue Origin\u2019s New Glenn.<\/p>\n
This mission marked the first overall CZ-12B mission and the first of 2026.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n