China today successfully completed a surprise and unannounced first launch of its new Long March 12B rocket, lifting off from its Jiuquan spaceport in northwest China. Video of the launch (courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay) can be viewed here.

The launch was unusual in several ways. First, no prelaunch “notices to airmen” were provided to warn them how to avoid the rocket’s flight path. This violates all standard procedures.

Second, this first test flight was also an operational one, placing a batch of Qiafan (SpaceSail) satellites into orbit. This internet constellation is meant to compete with Starlink and Leo, and will eventually have as many as 12,000 satellites in orbit. At present it is aiming to get 648 in orbit by the end of the year. China’s state-run press however did not reveal the number of satellites launched. After the previous launch in mid-May it was estimated there were about 170-180 satellites already in space, suggesting the count has now exceeded 200.

Third, and in line with the first two items, China’s state-run press provided no information about where the rocket’s first stage crashed. Though this rocket uses much less toxic kerosene as its fuel, it is still a big object falling uncontrolled. China says it plans to make the first stage reusable, thus eliminating this problem.

This rocket itself is powerful, designed to put 20 tons in orbit, and gives China an increased capability to put mass into space.

The leaders in the 2026 launch race:

64 SpaceX
32 China
8 Russia
7 Rocket Lab

For the third straight year SpaceX leads the entire world combined in total launches, 64 to 57.