After the explosion of a Long March 7A rocket on August 10, China's space program returned to flight with two launches on Sunday, August 16. A Long March 12 and a Long March 2C lifted off from their respective launch complexes.
The August 10 incident occurred during the ascent phase of the Long March 7A, prompting a temporary pause in launch activities while investigators examined the cause and reviewed safety protocols.
The back-to-back launches on August 16 demonstrated that the issue had been addressed. Both rockets followed standard procedures and achieved their intended trajectories, marking a resumption of regular operations.
These flights underscore the resilience of China's launch fleet and restore confidence in the reliability of its Long March series. Additional missions are scheduled for the coming weeks.