US science press
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Scientific American · United States · China drives toward ~140 orbital launches in 2026, a new national record
Reports the Long March 12B, built to be a reusable Falcon 9 rival, flying its maiden mission in June 2026 with paying customers aboard and no public warning, the booster's planned landing not even attempted. Frames China's secrecy and risk tolerance versus Western practice.
“China put paying customers on the maiden flight of a rocket built to land its booster, which never even tried.”