China bounces back from Long March rocket explosion with back-to-back launches (video)

China has successfully launched two space missions within a week following a Long March 7A rocket explosion, according to state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). On August 16, the Long March 12 rocket lifted off from the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site in Wenchang, delivering 24 internet-beaming satellites into low Earth orbit.

This was followed by the launch of a Long March 2C rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi province, which placed the UAE's SEO satellite into its planned orbit. The Long March 12 and Long March 7A rockets share some similarities in height and design, but they are tailored for different purposes. The Long March 12 is optimized for delivering heavy payloads to low Earth orbit and sun-synchronous orbits, while the Long March 7A is designed for higher-altitude missions to geostationary transfer orbit and beyond.

The most recent Long March 12 launch marks the rocket's seventh successful mission. Meanwhile, China continues to plan additional launches, including the second flight of the reusable Zhuque-3 rocket and a Long March 5 rocket carrying the Chang'e 7 robotic mission to the moon's South Pole, set to launch on August 23.