The Long March-12 carrier rocket sends two experimental satellites into their planned orbits on November 30, 2024. Photo: CCTV

China's first commercial space launch site, the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site, carried out its maiden mission on Saturday, with the Long March-12, a newly developed carrier rocket in the series, successfully delivering two satellites into designated orbits.

This launch demonstrates China's dedication to advancing its space transportation infrastructure. With the new model rocket ready for high-frequency launches, China is poised to accelerate satellite constellation deployment.

The new rocket model, developed by Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST), incorporates state-of-the-art design features. Measuring approximately 62 meters in length, the two-stage rocket is China's first 4-meter-class carrier rocket, and making it China's most powerful single-core rocket to date, the Global Times learned at the launch site. It is capable of delivering payloads of 12 tons to low Earth orbit (LEO) and 6 tons to a 700-kilometer Sun-synchronous orbit.

In particular, the 4-meter-level diameter of the rocket optimizes the balance between body size and engine configuration. The rocket's first stage is powered by four YF-100J liquid oxygen-kerosene engines, each providing 1,250 kilonewton of thrust, maximizing payload efficiency. 

Another notable design is that the rocket features customizable payload fairings, available in 4.2-meter or 5.2-meter diameters, providing adaptability to meet diverse mission needs, according to the SAST. 

Zeng Wenhua, a research fellow from SAST, told the Global Times that the 5.2-meter fairing is tailored for satellite constellation missions. In the future, it could support satellite stacking configurations for future missions.

"Constellation deployment missions involve placing multiple satellites in a single orbit, which require enhanced performance from the payload fairing," said Zeng. "The Long March-12 rocket is the first from our academy to feature a 5.2-meter-diameter large payload fairing, making it well-suited for LEO internet constellation missions."

The Long March-12 vehicle is prepared for high-frequency launch operations in the future, bolstering China's capacity for Sun-synchronous orbit insertions and LEO constellation deployments, further advancing the nation's space transportation infrastructure.

The mission also marked the inauguration of the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site, China's first dedicated commercial space launch facility. Completed in just 878 days from construction to operation, the Global Times learned.