Long March 8A's maiden flight was a success! Count down the special abilities of the new generation of "Long March" series rockets →

Long March 8A takes off

On February 11, 2025, the first Long March 8A (also known as Long March 8A) carrier rocket carrying the Internet low-orbit 02 group of satellites was launched at the Wenchang Launch Center in Hainan, adding a new model to China's "Long March" series of carrier rockets.

This type of rocket is developed and improved to meet the future needs of medium and low orbit giant constellation networking launches. Its main goal is to reduce overall costs and achieve high-frequency launches.

The new generation of commercial launch vehicle Long March 8

On December 23, 2020, the Long March 8 was successfully launched for the first time. It is a two-stage and a half new generation commercial launch vehicle, mainly used to launch low orbit or sun-synchronous orbit payloads.

The diameter of the first core stage is 3.35 meters, the diameter of the second stage is 3 meters, and the diameter of a single booster is 2.25 meters. It is a two-stage and a half rocket consisting of the first stage of the Long March 7 and the third stage of the Long March 3A. That is, the first core stage is equipped with two YF-100 liquid oxygen/kerosene engines with a single thrust of 120 tons; the second core stage is equipped with two YF-75D liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen engines with a single thrust of 8 tons, and has the ability of secondary starting.

The so-called "half-stage" refers to two boosters connected in parallel on the first core stage, each equipped with a YF-100 liquid oxygen/kerosene engine with a thrust of 120 tons. Usually, for a rocket with bundled boosters, no matter how many boosters are bundled, it is treated as a half-stage.

The Long March 8 rocket can send a 5-ton payload into a 700-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit, filling the gap in my country's 3-4.5-ton carrying capacity in the sun-synchronous orbit. It also has the capability to launch into low orbit and geosynchronous transfer orbit, and has strong international competitiveness, with promising prospects in the commercial satellite launch market.

Long March 8 rocket takes off

On February 27, 2022, the Long March 8 extended version made its maiden flight. It adopts a two-stage configuration, which is based on the Long March 8 without two boosters. The first stage of the core has a diameter of 3.35 meters and is equipped with two liquid oxygen/kerosene engines with a thrust of 120 tons each; the second stage of the core has a diameter of 3 meters and is equipped with two hydrogen/oxygen engines with a thrust of 8 tons each. The carrying capacity of the 700-kilometer high sun-synchronous orbit is about 3 tons.

Long March 8A with more technological upgrades

Long March 8A rocket

On February 11, 2025, the Long March 8A (also called Long March 8A) made its maiden flight. The total length of the rocket is 50.5 meters, the takeoff mass is 371 tons, the takeoff thrust is about 480 tons, and it can be launched from the 201 station of the Wenchang Launch Center in Hainan and the No. 1 station of the Hainan Commercial Launch Center.

As an improved version of the Long March 8, the Long March 8A adopts a two-and-a-half-stage configuration: its core first stage is the same as that of the Long March 8; the core second stage is a newly developed 3.35-meter universal hydrogen-oxygen final stage, which has the same diameter as the core first stage, increased propellant loading capacity, and is equipped with two newly developed YF-75DA liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen engines with improved thrust and performance.

The thrust of this engine is increased by more than 10% compared to the YF-75D engine, and the engine weight is reduced, which greatly improves the thrust-to-weight ratio and enhances the effective carrying capacity of the rocket.

The newly developed 3.35-meter diameter universal hydrogen-oxygen final stage can carry more fuel and adopts a series of new technologies and processes, which significantly improves the carrying capacity, effectively shortens the time it takes for satellites to enter orbit, saves fuel, and increases the life of satellites. Subsequently, the 3.35-meter diameter universal hydrogen-oxygen final stage will be used as a mature module for other rockets to select, greatly improving the carrying capacity of the Long March series of launch vehicles.

The core stage of the Long March 8A has two 2.25-meter diameter liquid boosters in parallel, each of which is equipped with a 120-ton thrust liquid oxygen/kerosene engine. These improvements have enabled its low-Earth orbit carrying capacity to reach about 10 tons, and its 700-kilometer high sun-synchronous orbit carrying capacity to reach 7 tons, which can cover the launch requirements of future mainstream orbital mission payloads.

In terms of carrying capacity, the Long March 8A forms a series with the Long March 8 and the Long March 8-EV, forming a carrying capacity echelon of 3, 5 and 7 tons for sun-synchronous orbit, thus meeting different satellite launch needs.

From the appearance, the Long March 8A has a "bigger head". This is because it is the first rocket to use a 3.35-meter diameter final stage with a 5.2-meter diameter fairing configuration. A larger fairing means that the rocket can provide more space for satellites, adapt to more types and larger satellites, and have stronger mission adaptability.

In addition, the Long March 8A innovatively integrated the functions of the satellite bracket, adapter frame, and instrument cabin into a multifunctional cabin, successfully reducing the weight by 200 kilograms and improving the rocket's carrying efficiency. This integrated design method is applied to rocket structures for the first time in China.

It is the first time that a dual-redundant electrostatic servo mechanism has been used. This technology combines the advantages of electric drive and hydraulic systems. It is small in size, light in weight, and quick in response. It can adapt to the high vibration and extreme temperature environment during rocket flight, and can significantly improve flight control accuracy and reliability.

What else are there in the new generation of “Long March” rockets?

The capability of a launch vehicle determines the scale of a country’s space activities. Therefore, all the world’s major space powers have made the development of advanced launch technology one of their strategic deployments to maintain their leading position. China is no exception, mainly developing the “Long March” series of launch vehicles, which is China’s “national team” in the field of launch vehicles.

my country's early "Long March" rockets were improved from ballistic missiles, and about 14 models were developed and launched. my country's Long March II, III, and IV series rockets are early carrier rockets improved from ballistic missiles, and some of them are still in use. For example, the Long March II F is currently my country's only manned carrier rocket, which is used to launch the Shenzhou manned spacecraft.

In order to adapt to the development direction of launch vehicles, in recent years, my country has begun to develop and launch a new generation of large, medium and small launch vehicles, including Long March 5, 5B, 6, 6A, 6C, 7, 7A, 8, 8A and 11, in accordance with the goal of "non-toxic, non-polluting, low cost, high reliability, large thrust, strong adaptability and good safety" since 2015.

The new generation of launch vehicles are designed with reliability, safety and economy as the main principles. They have different "capabilities" and will be increasingly used in space launches in the future.

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Long March 6, 6A, 6C new generation small liquid rockets

On September 20, 2015, my country's new generation of small liquid carrier rocket Long March 6 was successfully launched. It is a brand new three-stage liquid rocket equipped with a 120-ton liquid oxygen/kerosene engine used for the first time, which also laid the foundation for the use of 120-ton liquid oxygen/kerosene engines in new rockets such as Long March 5 and 7 launched later.

It can launch a 1-ton payload into a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 700 kilometers. It is non-toxic, pollution-free, and has a short launch preparation time.

The new generation of Long March 6 small liquid rocket does not require a large launch pad for launch

It adopts the "three-level" test and launch mode, namely horizontal overall testing, horizontal overall satellite-rocket docking, and horizontal overall transportation, erection and launch. The launch preparation cycle only takes 7 days. It can well adapt to the low-cost and short-cycle requirements of satellite launches and has now been put into commercial launch.

On March 29, 2022, the new Long March 6A rocket was successfully launched. Its biggest feature is that it has four solid boosters in parallel on the basis of the Long March 6, but the third stage is removed, that is, it adopts a two-and-a-half-stage configuration, which enables its 700-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit carrying capacity of 5 tons. With the advantages of solid engines, the Long March 6A rocket has a 55% reduction in the pipeline system, which can realize the direct installation of solid boosters at the launch site and achieve the rapid launch of serial and parallel rockets in 14 days.

Long March 6A rocket takes off

On May 7, 2024, the new Long March 6C rocket made its maiden flight. It has a two-stage configuration, with neither the third stage of the Long March 6 nor the booster of the Long March 6A. Its carrying capacity to a 700-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit is about 2 tons, which is between that of the Long March 6 and the Long March 6A. It is reliable, economical, and easy to use.

Long March 6C takes off

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Long March 11 new generation small solid rocket

On September 25, 2015, my country's Long March 11 rocket launched for the first time and sent four small satellites into the planned orbit. It is a brand-new four-stage small solid-fuel carrier rocket with a carrying capacity of 700 kilograms to a 200-kilometer low orbit.

As the first and only solid rocket in the "Long March" family, the Long March-11 has the advantages of being "fast, reliable, convenient and low-cost". It has achieved the leap of 24-hour rapid launch of my country's carrier rockets and can meet the needs of microsatellite launches in emergency situations such as natural disasters and emergencies.

Long March 11 rocket docks with payload

On June 5, 2019, China successfully launched a satellite on a sea platform using the Long March 11 rocket for the first time . Launching a carrier rocket at sea can not only reduce launch costs and increase carrying capacity, but also effectively solve the safety issues of the rocket flight area and the debris landing area, avoid large-scale evacuation of personnel, and provide a new launch mode for China's space launch.

Launch of the Long March 11 rocket at sea

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Long March 7 and 7A new generation medium-sized launch vehicles

On June 25, 2016, the new generation Long March 7 medium-sized carrier rocket was successfully launched for the first time. It adopts a two-and-a-half-stage configuration and can send a 13.5-ton payload into a low Earth orbit with a perigee of 200 kilometers, an apogee of 400 kilometers, and an inclination of 42 degrees.

The Long March 7 is waterproof, windproof, and salt spray-proof. It can be vertically transported in a force 8 gale and launched in moderate rain. Currently, the Long March 7 is mainly used to launch the Tianzhou series of cargo spacecraft at the Wenchang Launch Center in Hainan.

Long March 7 rocket takes off

On March 12, 2021, the Long March 7A rocket made its maiden flight. It is a new generation of medium-sized high-orbit carrier rocket formed by combining the Long March 7 rocket with the third stage of the Long March 3A series rocket. The total length of the rocket is 60.13 meters, the core first and second stages are 3.35 meters in diameter, the third stage is 3 meters in diameter, the single booster is 2.25 meters in diameter, and the total takeoff mass of the rocket is about 573 tons.

Long March 7A rocket

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Long March 5 and 5B, new generation large launch vehicles

On November 3, 2016, the new generation of Long March 5 large carrier rocket was successfully launched for the first time. It adopts a two-and-a-half-stage configuration, and its biggest feature is that the core stage has a diameter of 5 meters (the maximum diameter of other "Long March" rockets is 3.35 meters). The rocket is generally 56.97 meters long, with a core stage and a second stage diameter of 5 meters, a single booster diameter of 3.35 meters, a takeoff mass of 869 tons, and a takeoff thrust of 1,078 tons.

The rocket has a geosynchronous transfer orbit carrying capacity of 14 tons, an Earth-Moon transfer orbit carrying capacity of 8 tons, and an Earth-Mars transfer orbit carrying capacity of 5 tons. Its comprehensive performance indicators are at the level of mainstream international launch vehicles. It has successfully launched large spacecraft such as the Chang'e-5 and Chang'e-6 lunar sample return probes and the Tianwen-1 Mars probe.

Long March 5 rocket

The Long March 5B rocket, developed on the basis of the Long March 5, was successfully launched on May 5, 2020. It is a rocket without the second stage of the Long March 5 and adopts a one-and-a-half-stage configuration. Its low-orbit carrying capacity is 25 tons and it is mainly used to launch space station modules. It has now sent the Tianhe core module, Wentian laboratory module, Mengtian laboratory module and a new generation of manned spacecraft test ship of my country's Tiangong space station into space.

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Long March 12 new generation medium-sized carrier rocket

On November 30, 2024, China's Long March 12 rocket made its maiden flight and the Hainan Space Commercial Launch Center was used for the first time. It adopts a two-stage configuration, with a low-Earth orbit carrying capacity of no less than 12 tons and a 700-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit carrying capacity of no less than 6 tons. It is currently China's largest single-core stage carrier rocket with the largest carrying capacity, which can effectively improve China's sun-synchronous orbit insertion capability and low-orbit Internet constellation networking capability.

Long March 12 rocket takes off

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Future Long March Rockets

At present, my country is also actively developing the Long March 9 heavy-lift carrier rocket and the Long March 10 new generation manned carrier rocket. The Long March 10 will complete China's manned lunar mission and realize the Chinese people's dream of landing on the moon. The Long March 9 will meet the needs of a series of major missions of China's aerospace industry, including the construction of future lunar research stations, space power stations and the realization of manned landings on Mars and other major national scientific and technological activities.

Author: Pang Zhihao

Chief Scientific Communication Expert of National Space Exploration Technology

Editor: Dong Xiaoxian

Reviewer: Zhang Chao, Li Peiyuan