Flight 2 on Long March 12A — launch time & how to watch

What is launching?

The Long March 12A is scheduled to fly its second mission, designated Flight 2, no earlier than August 31, 2026, at 00:00 UTC from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the People's Republic of China. The Long March 12A is a Chinese two-stage orbital launch vehicle operated by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), and this flight marks only the second time the vehicle has flown.

As a newer member of China's Long March rocket family, the Long March 12 series is designed to expand China's medium-lift launch capacity, supporting satellite deployment into low Earth orbit and beyond. Flight 2 follows the vehicle's debut and is a key step in demonstrating repeatable performance.

When is the launch?

The current target is August 31, 2026, 00:00 UTC. The status is listed as TBD (to be determined), which is normal for Chinese launches — CASC and Chinese authorities typically confirm precise timing only shortly before liftoff, and windows can shift by hours or days.

Where is it launching from?

Flight 2 lifts off from the dedicated Long March 12 series pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, located in the Gobi Desert in northwestern China. Jiuquan is China's oldest and one of its most active spaceports, operational since 1958, and it is the only Chinese site to have launched crewed missions. Its inland location makes it well suited for launches into a range of inclinations, including sun-synchronous and low Earth orbits.

What is the Long March 12 series?

The Long March 12 is a two-stage, kerosene-and-liquid-oxygen rocket introduced to broaden CASC's medium-class launch options. The base Long March 12 debuted in 2024, and the 12A variant continues that development line. China conducts dozens of orbital launches each year — more than 60 in recent record years — and the Long March 12 series is part of the country's push to increase cadence and payload throughput to support commercial and government satellite constellations.

What is the payload?

The specific payload for Flight 2 has not been publicly detailed in the available launch data. Chinese launches frequently carry technology-demonstration satellites, remote-sensing spacecraft, or batches of constellation satellites. Payload specifics for Long March missions are often disclosed only near or after liftoff, so check back on the latest launch news for updates as they are confirmed.

How to watch live

Chinese state launches from Jiuquan do not always carry an official live webcast, and when coverage is provided it is typically released shortly before or after liftoff. To follow the mission in real time, you can track the countdown and get liftoff notifications through Cosmik's rocket launch schedule. Once the payload reaches orbit, you'll be able to see it on our live 3D solar system and satellite map.

Because the launch status is TBD, the exact timing may move. Enabling free launch alerts is the most reliable way to know the moment a firm time is confirmed.

How to track the satellites after launch

After deployment, newly cataloged objects can be followed on Cosmik. Learn more about visualizing orbits in our guide to how to track satellites, and explore the full live map to watch spacecraft circle the planet in real time.

Why this launch matters

Flight 2 is a validation milestone. A successful second flight helps establish the Long March 12A as a dependable option in China's growing fleet, contributing to a national launch program that has been steadily raising its annual cadence for years. Each additional operational vehicle increases the number of payloads China can lift per year.

Follow Long March 12A Flight 2 live on Cosmik — track the countdown on our launch tracker, enable free launch alerts to catch any schedule change, and watch the deployed satellites join the live 3D map once they reach orbit.

Data source: The Space Devs Launch Library.