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Long March 8

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Chinese orbital launch vehicle

Long March 8
Size
Rendering of Long March 8 Y1
Function	Orbital launch vehicle
Manufacturer	China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT)
Country of origin	China
Height	CZ-8 (core only): 48 m (157 ft)^[1] CZ-8: 50.34 m (165.2 ft) CZ-8A: 50.5 m (166 ft)^[2]
Diameter	3.35 m (11.0 ft)
Mass	CZ-8 (core only): 198,000 kg (437,000 lb)^[1] CZ-8: 356,000 kg (785,000 lb) CZ-8A: 371,000 kg (818,000 lb)^[2]
Stages	2
Capacity
Payload toSSO
Altitude	700 km (430 mi)
Mass	CZ-8 (core only): 3,000 kg (6,600 lb)^[1] CZ-8: 5,000 kg (11,000 lb) CZ-8A: 7,000 kg (15,000 lb)^[3]
Payload toLEO
Mass	8,100 kg (17,900 lb)
Payload toGTO
Mass	2,800 kg (6,200 lb)
Payload toTLI
Mass	1,500 kg (3,300 lb)

Associated rockets
Comparable	Soyuz-2 Antares Falcon 9 Atlas V Ariane 6 H3
Launch history
Status	Active
Launch sites	Wenchang, LC-2 Wenchang Commercial, LC-1
Total launches	8 (8: 4,8A: 4)
Success(es)	8 (8: 4,8A: 4)
First flight	8: 22 December 2020 8A: 11 February 2025
Last flight	8: 11 March 2025(most recent) 8A: 16 October 2025(most recent)

Boosters – K2
No. boosters	0 or 2
Height	26.903 m (88.26 ft)
Diameter	2.25 m (7 ft 5 in)
Powered by	1 ×YF-100
Maximum thrust	SL: 1,200 kN (270,000 lb_f) vac: 1,340 kN (300,000 lb_f)
Total thrust	SL: 4,800 kN (1,100,000 lb_f) vac: 5,360 kN (1,200,000 lb_f)
Specific impulse	SL: 300 s (2.9 km/s) vac: 335 s (3.29 km/s)
Propellant	RP-1 /LOX
First stage – K3
Height	25.083 m (82.29 ft)
Diameter	3.35 m (11.0 ft)
Powered by	2 ×YF-100
Maximum thrust	SL: 2,400 kN (540,000 lb_f) vac: 2,680 kN (600,000 lb_f)
Specific impulse	SL: 300 s (2.9 km/s) vac: 335 s (3.29 km/s)
Propellant	RP-1 /LOX
Second stage (CZ-8)
Height	12.375 m (40.60 ft)
Diameter	3 m (9.8 ft)
Powered by	2 ×YF-75
Maximum thrust	167.17 kN (37,580 lb_f)
Specific impulse	438 s (4.30 km/s)
Propellant	LH₂ /LOX
Second stage (CZ-8A)
Height	12.375 m (40.60 ft)
Diameter	3.35 m (11.0 ft)
Powered by	2 ×YF-75H
Maximum thrust	200 kN (45,000 lb_f)
Specific impulse	442.6 s (4.340 km/s)
Propellant	LH₂ /LOX

[edit on Wikidata]

Long March 8 (Chinese:长征八号运载火箭) is an orbitallaunch vehicle developed by theChina Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology to launch up to 5000 kg to a 700 km altitudeSun-synchronous orbit (SSO).^[4]

Design

[edit]

The rocket is based on theLong March 7 with its dual engine first stage and single engine boosters, along with the existing liquid hydrogen burning third stage of theLong March 3A/3B/3C and7A as its second stage.Whereas the LM-7 uses 4 boosters, the LM-8 normally uses just 2. The boosters are omitted in the "core only" variant that first flew on its second launch in February 2022.^[1]

A planned future launch vehicle variant of the Long March 8 will bepartially reusable by featuring acombined booster recovery of the first stage and the boosters as a single unit.^[5]

History

[edit]

The maiden flight of the Long March 8 was launched on 22 December 2020 from theWenchang Spacecraft Launch Site.^[6]

The "core only" variant first flew in February 2022.^[1]

CZ-8A variant

[edit]

An upgraded version of the Long March 8, theLong March 8A (Chinese:长征八号甲运载火箭), has successfully debuted on February 11, 2025^[7] with increased capability of up to 7 tonnes to a 700 km altitudesun-synchronous orbit. It implements a larger 3.35 meters diameter liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen second stage, coupled with 2 upgraded version of theYF-75D engines (known as the YF-75H) with increased thrust to 10 tonnes each through measures such as increased turbopump speeds. The Long March 8A can also use a larger 5.2 meters diameter payload fairing.

Launch statistics

[edit]

Launch outcomes

[edit]

2020

'21

'22

'23

'24

'25

'26

Failure
Partial failure
Success
Planned

Rocket configurations

[edit]

2020

'21

'22

'23

'24

'25

CZ-8 core only
CZ-8 standard
CZ-8A

List of launches

[edit]

Main article:List of Long March launches

Flight No.	Variant	Flight number	Date / time (UTC)	Launch site	Payload	Orbit	Outcome
1	CZ-8	Y1	22 December 2020 04:37^[6]^[8]	Wenchang, LC‑2	Xinjishu Yanzheng 7 (XJY-7) Haisi-1 Tianqi Xingzuo 08 (Ping'an-1) Yuanguang-1 ET-SMART-RSS (Zhixing-1A)	SSO	Success
2	CZ-8 (core only)^[9]	Y2	27 February 2022 03:06^[9]	Wenchang, LC‑2	Dayun (Xingshidai-17) Hainan-1 01, 02 Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D 10–18 Jilin-1 Mofang-02A 01 Qimingxing-1 Taijing-3 01 Taijing-4 01 Tianxian-1 (Chaohu-1) Chuangxing Leishen Wenchang-1 01, 02 XD-1 Tianqi-19	SSO	Success
3	CZ-8	Y3	20 March 2024 00:31^[10]	Wenchang, LC‑2	Queqiao-2 Tiandu-1 Tiandu-2	Lunar	Success
4	CZ-8A	Y1	11 February 2025 09:30^[11]	Wenchang, LC‑2	Huliangwang × 9 (SatNet LEO Group 02)	LEO	Success
5	CZ-8	Y6	11 March 2025 16:38^[12]	Wenchang Commercial, LC‑1	Qianfan × 18 (G60 Polar Group 05)	Polar	Success
6	CZ-8A	Y3	30 July 2025 07:49^[13]	Wenchang Commercial, LC‑1	Huliangwang × 9 (SatNet LEO Group 06)	LEO	Success
7	CZ-8A	Y2	25 August 2025 19:08^[14]	Wenchang Commercial, LC‑1	Huliangwang × 9 (SatNet LEO Group 10)	LEO	Success
8	CZ-8A	Y4	16 October 2025 01:33	Wenchang Commercial, LC‑1	Huliangwang × 9 (SatNet LEO Group 12)	LEO	Success
9	CZ-8A	Y5	NET November 2025	Wenchang Commercial, LC‑1	Huliangwang × 9 (SatNet LEO Group 14)	LEO	Planned
	CZ-8	Y5	2025 ^[15]	Wenchang Commercial, LC‑1	Qianfan × 18 (G60 Polar Group TBD)	Polar	Planned

References

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^^a ^b ^c ^d ^e"长征八号遥二运载火箭飞行试验取得圆满成功".people.cn (in Chinese (China)). 27 February 2022. Retrieved18 March 2023.
^^a ^bZhengyu, Song; Lidong, Liu; Xiaofei, Chen; Shanshu, Xu; Yitian, Wu (April 2023)."Development and Key Technologies of Long March 8 Family: China's Next-generation Medium-lift Launchers".Journal of Astronautics.44 (4):476–485.doi:10.3873/j.issn.1000-1328.2023.04.002. Retrieved7 June 2024.
^"长征八号改进型火箭二子级暨通用氢氧末级全系统试车成功！长征八号改进型火箭今年首飞 (All-Systems testing of upgraded Long March 8 second stage/universal LH2/LOX upper stage a success! Upgraded Long March 8 will first launch this year)" (in Chinese).CALT. Retrieved7 June 2024.
^贾平凡 (28 December 2020)."长征八号首飞成功中国运载火箭家族再添新成员" (in Simplified Chinese). 新华社. Retrieved27 February 2022.
^Jones, Andrew (30 April 2018)."China to test rocket reusability with planned Long March 8 launcher". SpaceNews. Retrieved6 December 2020.
^^a ^bJones, Andrew (22 December 2020)."China launches first Long March 8 from Wenchang spaceport".SpaceNews. Retrieved22 December 2020.
^Jones, Andrew (11 February 2025)."First launch of Long March 8A sends second group of Guowang megaconstellation satellites into orbit".SpaceNews. Retrieved12 February 2025.
^"长征八号运载火箭首次飞行试验取得圆满成功" [First Long March 8 rocket test flight was a complete success].CNSA (in Chinese). 22 December 2020. Retrieved22 December 2020.
^^a ^bJones, Andrew (27 February 2022)."China launches national record 22 satellites on Long March 8 commercial rideshare".SpaceNews. Retrieved1 March 2022.
^"China launches new relay satellite for Earth-Moon communications".Xinhua. 20 March 2024. Retrieved21 March 2024.
^Jones, Andrew (11 February 2025)."First launch of Long March 8A sends second group of Guowang megaconstellation satellites into orbit".SpaceNews. Retrieved11 February 2025.
^"长征八号运载火箭完成转场合练，海南商发一号发射工位将迎来首飞任务" [Long March 8 rocket completed pad dress rehearsal ahead of first launch from Wenchang Commercial Launch Site Pad No. 1].Sina.com. 8 November 2024. Retrieved9 November 2024.
^Jones, Andrew (11 February 2025)."First launch of Long March 8A sends second group of Guowang megaconstellation satellites into orbit".SpaceNews. Retrieved11 February 2025.
^Jones, Andrew (11 February 2025)."First launch of Long March 8A sends second group of Guowang megaconstellation satellites into orbit".SpaceNews. Retrieved11 February 2025.
^"长征八号运载火箭完成转场合练，海南商发一号发射工位将迎来首飞任务" [Long March 8 rocket completed pad dress rehearsal ahead of first launch from Wenchang Commercial Launch Site Pad No. 1].Sina.com. 8 November 2024. Retrieved9 November 2024.

v t e Long March (rocket family)
Rockets	Feng Bao 1 Long March 1 1D Long March 2 2A 2C 2D 2E 2F Long March 3 3A 3B 3B/E 3C Long March 4 4A 4B 4C Long March 5 5B Long March 6 6A 6C Long March 7 7A Long March 8 8A Long March 9 Long March 10 Long March 11 11H Long March 12
Launch sites	Jiuquan Taiyuan Wenchang Commercial Xichang
Manufacturers	China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology
Designers	Wang Xiji
List of Long March launches

Chinese launch systems

Sounding rockets

Orbital launch vehicles

Active	Ceres 1 1S Gravity-1 Hyperbola-1 Jielong 1 3 Kaituozhe 2 Kuaizhou 1 1A 11 Kinetica 1 Long March CZ-2C 2D 2F 3A 3B/E 3C 4B 4C 5 5B 6 6A 6C 7 7A 8 11 11H 12 OS-M1 Tianlong-2 Zhuque 2E
In development	Ceres-2 Gravity-2 Hyperbola-3 Kuaizhou 21 31 Long March 9 10 10A 12A Naga-L Nebula 1 New Line 1 OS-M2 OS-M4 Pallas 1 2 Tianlong-3 Zhuque 3
Retired	Feng Bao 1 Kaituozhe-1 Long March CZ-1 1D 2A 2E 3 3B 4A Zhuque 1 2

v t e Orbital launch systems
List of orbital launch systems Comparison of orbital launch systems
Current	Angara 1.2 A5 Ariane 6 Atlas V Ceres 1 1S Chollima-1 Electron Eris^† Falcon 9 Block 5 Falcon Heavy Firefly Alpha Gravity-1 GSLV H3 Hyperbola-1 Jielong 1 3 KAIROS^† Kaituozhe 2 Kinetica 1 Kuaizhou 1 1A 11 Long March 2C 2D 2F 3A 3B/E 3C 4B 4C 5 5B 6 6A 6C 7 7A 8 11 11H 12 LVM3 Minotaur I IV V C New Glenn Nuri OS-M1^† Pegasus XL Proton-M PSLV Qaem 100 Qased Shavit 2 Simorgh SLS Block 1 Soyuz-2 2.1a / STA 2.1b / STB Spectrum^† SSLV Starship Tianlong-2 Unha Vega C Vulcan Centaur Zhuque 2E
In development	Antares 330 Bloostar Blue Whale 1 Ceres-2 Cyclone-4M Deca Eclipse Epsilon S Gravity-2 HANBIT-NANO Hyperbola-2 Irtysh Kinetica 2 2H 3 KSLV-III Kuaizhou 21 31 Long March 9 10 Miura 5 Neutron New Line 1 NGLV Nova OS-M 2 4 Orbex Prime Pallas-1 Red Dwarf RFA One SLS Block 1B Block 2 Soyuz-7 Terran R Tianlong-3 VLM Vega E Zero Zhuque 3 Zuljanah
Retired	Antares 110 120 130^† 230 230+ Ariane 1 2 3 4 5 ASLV Athena I II Atlas B D E/F G H I II III LV-3B SLV-3 Able^† Agena Centaur Black Arrow Conestoga^† Delta A B C D E G J L M N 0100 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 II III IV IV Heavy Diamant Dnepr Energia Epsilon Europa I^† II^† Falcon 1 Falcon 9 v1.0 v1.1 v1.2 "Full Thrust" Feng Bao 1 GSLV Mk I H-I H-II H-IIA H-IIB Juno I Juno II Kaituozhe-1 Kosmos original 1 2/2I 3 3M Lambda 4S LauncherOne Long March 1 1D^† 2A 2E 3 3B 4A Mu 4S 3C 3H 3S 3SII V N1^† N-I N-II Naro-1 Paektusan^† Pilot-2^† R-7 Luna Molniya M L Polyot Soyuz original FG L M U U2 2-1v Soyuz/Vostok Sputnik Voskhod Vostok L K 2 2M R-29 Shtil' Volna^† Rocket 3 RS1^† Safir 1 1A 1B Saturn I IB V Scout X-1 Blue Scout II^† X-2^† X-2M X-3 X-3M X-4 X-2B^† B A B-1 D-1 A-1 E-1 F-1 G-1 Shavit original 1 SLV Space Shuttle SPARK^† Sparta SS-520 Start-1 Terran 1^† Thor Able Ablestar 1 2 Agena A B D Burner 1 2 Delta DSV-2U Thorad-Agena SLV-2G SLV-2H Titan II GLV IIIA IIIB IIIC IIID IIIE 34D 23G CT-3 IV Tsyklon R-36-O original 2 3 Universal Rocket UR-500 Proton Proton-K Rokot Strela Vanguard Vega original VLS-1^† Zenit 2 2M 2FG 3SL 3SLB 3F Zhuque 1^† 2
Classes	Sounding rocket Small-lift launch vehicle Medium-lift launch vehicle Heavy-lift launch vehicle Super heavy-lift launch vehicle
This template lists historical, current, and future space rockets that at least once attempted (but not necessarily succeeded in) an orbital launch or that are planned to attempt such a launch in the future Symbol^† indicates past or current rockets that attempted orbital launches but never succeeded (never did or has yet to perform a successful orbital launch)