The China Academy of Space Technology (CASC) has announced that China is determined to "launch for the first time this year the new two-stage liquid-fueled rocket CZ-12." The academy reported in a statement published on February 26 that they "plan to launch the rocket from China's only civil spaceport located in Wenchang on the northeastern coast of Hainan Island, which was established at the end of last year." The agency stated: "All design and development work for the CZ-12 rocket has been completed, and it is currently in the testing phase before its launch into space."
The new rocket is capable of delivering at least 10 tons of payload to low Earth orbit and at least 6 tons to geostationary orbit. The report indicated that the rocket's diameter may reach 5.2 and 4.2 meters; however, these specifications may change according to the missions it executes. It is noted that China launched approximately 67 spacecraft in 2023, with plans to increase that number to around 100 rockets in 2024.
