Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology
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SAST is part of the national space agency, CASC (China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp), the other part being CALT (China Academy of Launch Vehicle Tech). SAST is tasked with more innovative designed that will hopefully replace the aging rockets of the Long March family.
Most importantly, the Long March also has a planned reusable configuration, called the Long March 12A (also called 12R) which will have its debut flight later this year.
Long March 12
Long March 12
The first stage features 4 engines in a 2x2 configuration.
One of theses experiments is the Long March 12 rocket, a single core rocket announced in February 2024. This rocket is very innovative in that it has:
Used a engine that will be on the moon rocket, Long March 10
Successfully launched from the Wenchang commercial launch center
Long March 12 has 2 flights, one being on November 30, 2024 and the other in August 4, 2025.
Long March 12A
Long March 12A
Not much is known about the Long March 12A. It features seven engines, with one in the middle for the first stage landing. One main difference between the 12 and 12A is that the engines on 12A are actually produced by the commercial sector. This is a rare collaboration between private and public, further reinforcing the idea of SAST as the innovative branch of the national space agency.
Hopper Test 1
Hopper Test 1
On June 23, 2024, SAST conducted a 10km hop test at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The test article featured three engines, the center of which would remain on during the entire flight. It also features landing legs, which successfully deployed for the landing.
This was very similar to the Deep Blue Aero hop test, aside from the that that it is successful.
Hopper Test 2
Hopper Test 2
On January 19th, 2025, SAST conducted the second test, this time a 75km hop over the ocean. This test article featured many of the same configuration, but also included deployable grid-fins. The successes of this test includes.
Ascension successful (75 km)
Grid fins deployed
Engine relight successful
The main importance of this test was the engine relight. Obviously there was a problem with deceleration, some speculate it to be a simple software issue. link
Gridfin Experimentation
Gridfin Experimentation
SAST has experience with gridfin controlled descent. Added onto a Long March 4B, the gridfins would control the trajectory of the expended booster.
Besides engine relight, this is the biggest piece of information to prove SAST's ability to land the booster.
Landing Site
Landing Site
Around October 18th, 2025, the potential landing site for Long March 12A has been completed.
Construction started around August 9th. The site is located around 254 kilometers southeast of JSLC.
Cords: 39.043986 101.922537
https://x.com/PhazzeeYeehaw/status/1998075934143050239
Arrival at JSLC
Arrival at JSLC
On November 26th, 2025, the Long March 12A arrived at JSLC. It features 4 strakes, 4 landing legs, and 4 grid-fins. Most notable are the small solid motors in the middle of the first stage.
https://x.com/raz_liu/status/1995844354473427306
On December 2nd 2025, the pad was announced as completed.
https://x.com/raz_liu/status/1995844354473427306
On December 6th 2025, the Long March 12A completed a static fire.
https://x.com/kelvin61942434/status/1997225251684651112
The maiden launch was completed on December 22nd 2025. The landing was not successful, with problems beginning as soon as the reentry burn (smoke seen, possibly engine bay fire). During the landing burn it is rumored that only two of the three needed engines relit, leading the booster to overshoot the pad and crash 5km away from the landing pad.
https://www.china-in-space.com/p/shanghai-academy-debuts-reusable
Long March 12B
Long March 12B
The LM 12B is even lesser known compared to the 12A. It features 9 kerosene engines on the first stage, rather than 7 methane engines on the 12A.
On January 16th, 2026, the LM 12B completed a successful static fire. Gridfins are visible on the first stage, but not any landing legs (although the attachment points for where they would be visible).
https://x.com/AJ_FI/status/2012811104401989767
https://www.china-in-space.com/p/reusable-long-march-12b-fires-up
Notably the 12B was rolled out to the pad after the 12A failed landing. Therefore it is not surprising that many months after the static fire it has not launched. Therefore it is likely that 12B would receive some sort of upgrades specifically for the reentry and landing burn. I believe they would also add the landing legs
Second Stage Static Fire
Second Stage Static Fire
In March of 2025, the second stage of the LM 12B was static fired.
SAST is no doubt the agency with the most data in preparation for reusability. The most basic is their experience with reaching orbit from expendable rockets. As noted above, there were also previous grid fin experimentation on expendable boosters. The 75km VTVL is the highest one attempted in China. Although not fully successful, it did manage to restart the engine prior to landing, as did Landspace during their 10km test.
The lack of information about the Long March 12A and 12B does not scare me, that is just how SAST works. However, old space will do old space things, maybe the prior experience will cloud SAST on the innovative needs of reusability. Also it is an interesting decision to create both the LM12A and LM12B. At the very least, LM12B will have plenty of time to undergo upgrades from the lessons learned during the launch of 12A. The same goes for the second launch of LM12A, which will most likely be after the maiden launch of LM12B.
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