China debuted its Long March 12B rocket in a surprise launch from Jiuquan base. The 236-foot-tall vehicle, developed by state-owned China Commercial Rocket Co., lifted off Monday without prior announcement. This marks China's latest bid in the reusable rocket competition, following failed recovery attempts by other Chinese rockets.

The Long March 12B reportedly took just 21 months to develop from concept to flight. Unlike previous iterations, this rocket uses kerosene fuel with nine first-stage engines, offering payload capacity comparable to traditional models even in reusable configuration. The secretive approach mirrors Russian tactics, suggesting a new strategy for Chinese space launches.

The rocket delivered Qianfan broadband spacecraft to orbit, supporting China's internet constellation ambitions. With multiple entities competing to achieve China's first orbital booster landing, the Long March 12B represents the state-backed aerospace enterprise's response to private sector rocket development.