China set to debut Long March-12 rocket, rolls out to the launch pad

China is set to boost its space launch capabilities as preparations for the first launch of the Long March 12 are underway at a new commercial space launch center. A ceremony for the rocket was held July 17, according to a press release from the state-owned Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST), the rocket’s developer. A date for launch was not given, but social media posts reveal flight hardware to be at the commercial space launch center at Wenchang, Hainan island. The Long March 12 could launch as soon as August. No payloads for the flight have so far been disclosed. The two-stage, kerosene-fueled Long March 12 is reported to have a payload capacity of 12,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit (LEO), though earlier reports have cited 10,000 kg. Its capacity for sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) is 6,000 kg. #chinaspace #longmarch12 #CZ12