Long March 8

Long March 8
	Rendering of Long March 8 Y1
Function	Orbital launch vehicle
Manufacturer	China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT)
Country of origin	China
Size
Height	Standard: 50.34 m (165.2 ft); Core only: 48 m (157 ft); CZ-8A: 50.5 m (166 ft);
Diameter	3.35 m (11.0 ft)
Mass	Standard: 356,000 kg (785,000 lb); Core only: 198,000 kg (437,000 lb); CZ-8A: 371,000 kg (818,000 lb);
Stages	2
Capacity
Payload to SSO 700 km
Mass	Standard: 5,000 kg (11,000 lb); Core only: 3,000 kg (6,600 lb); CZ-8A: 7,000 kg (15,000 lb);
Payload to LEO
Mass	8,100 kg (17,900 lb)
Payload to GTO
Mass	2,800 kg (6,200 lb)
Payload to TLI
Mass	1,500 kg (3,300 lb)
Associated rockets
Comparable	Soyuz-2; Antares; Falcon 9 (RTLS reusable); Atlas V 501; Ariane 62; H3-30
Launch history
Status	Active
Launch sites	Wenchang LC-2; Wenchang Commercial LC-1
Total launches	3
Success(es)	3
First flight	22 December 2020
Last flight	20 March 2024
Boosters (Standard) – K2 booster
No. boosters	2 or 0
Height	26.903 m (88.26 ft)
Diameter	2.25 m (7 ft 5 in)
Powered by	1 YF-100
Maximum thrust	Sea level: 1,200 kN (270,000 lbf); Vacuum: 1,340 kN (300,000 lbf)
Total thrust	Sea level: 4,800 kN (1,100,000 lbf); Vacuum: 5,360 kN (1,200,000 lbf)
Specific impulse	Sea level: 300 s (2.9 km/s); Vacuum: 335 s (3.29 km/s)
Propellant	RP-1 / LOX
First stage – K3 core module
Height	25.083 m (82.29 ft)
Diameter	3.35 m (11.0 ft)
Powered by	2 YF-100
Maximum thrust	Sea level: 2,400 kN (540,000 lbf); Vacuum: 2,680 kN (600,000 lbf)
Specific impulse	Sea level: 300 s (2.9 km/s); Vacuum: 335 s (3.29 km/s)
Propellant	RP-1 / LOX
Second stage (CZ-8)
Height	12.375 m (40.60 ft)
Diameter	3.0 m (9.8 ft)
Powered by	2 YF-75
Maximum thrust	167.17 kN (37,580 lbf)
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 lbf)
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 orbital launch vehicle developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology to launch up to 5000 kg to a 700 km altitude Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO).^[4] The rocket is based on the Long March 7 with its first stage and two boosters, along with the existing liquid hydrogen burning third stage of the Long March 3A/3B/3C and 7A as its second stage. 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 be partially reusable by featuring a combined booster recovery of the first stage and the boosters as a single unit.^[5]

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

CZ-8A variant

An upgraded version of the Long March 8, the Long March 8A (Chinese: 长征八号甲运载火箭), will debut in 2024 with increased capability of up to 7 tonnes to a 700 km altitude sun-synchronous orbit. It implements a larger 3.35 meters diameter liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen second stage, coupled with 2 upgraded version of the YF-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

2

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

Failure
Partial failure
Success
Planned

List of launches

S.no	Flight number	Date (UTC)	Variant	Launch site	Payload	Orbit	Outcome
1	Y1	22 December 2020 04:37^[6]^[7]	Standard	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	Y2	27 February 2022 03:06^[8]	Core only^[8]	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	Y3	20 March 2024 00:31^[9]	Standard	Wenchang, LC-2	Queqiao-2 Tiandu-1 Tiandu-2	Selenocentric	Success
4	Y5	January 2025^[10]	Standard	Wenchang Commercial, LC-1	Qianfan × 18 (G60 Polar Group 04)	Polar	Planned
5	Y1	January 2025^[11]	8A	Wenchang Commercial, LC-1	TBA	LEO	Planned
6	Y6	February 2025^[12]	Standard	Wenchang Commercial, LC-1	Qianfan × 18 (G60 Polar Group TBD)	Polar	Planned

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "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. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
^ ^a ^b Zhengyu, 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. Retrieved 7 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. Retrieved 7 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. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
^ Jones, Andrew (30 April 2018). "China to test rocket reusability with planned Long March 8 launcher". SpaceNews. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
^ ^a ^b Jones, Andrew (22 December 2020). "China launches first Long March 8 from Wenchang spaceport". SpaceNews. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
^ "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. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
^ ^a ^b Jones, Andrew (27 February 2022). "China launches national record 22 satellites on Long March 8 commercial rideshare". SpaceNews. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
^ "China launches new relay satellite for Earth-Moon communications". Xinhua. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
^ "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. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
^ "长征八号甲运载火箭模型将首次亮相中国航展，计划 2025 年 1 月首飞" [Long March 8A rocket model will appear at the China Airshow for the first time; first launch planned for January 2025]. Sina.com. 9 November 2024. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
^ "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. Retrieved 9 November 2024.

[CZ8Y2-1] "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. Retrieved 18 March 2023.

[CZ8A-2] Zhengyu, 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. Retrieved 7 June 2024.

[CZ8A2ndstage-3] "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. Retrieved 7 June 2024.

[4] 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. Retrieved 27 February 2022.

[5] Jones, Andrew (30 April 2018). "China to test rocket reusability with planned Long March 8 launcher". SpaceNews. Retrieved 6 December 2020.

[SN20201222-6] Jones, Andrew (22 December 2020). "China launches first Long March 8 from Wenchang spaceport". SpaceNews. Retrieved 22 December 2020.

[7] "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. Retrieved 22 December 2020.

[SpaceNews_Y2-8] Jones, Andrew (27 February 2022). "China launches national record 22 satellites on Long March 8 commercial rideshare". SpaceNews. Retrieved 1 March 2022.

[9] "China launches new relay satellite for Earth-Moon communications". Xinhua. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 21 March 2024.

[10] "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. Retrieved 9 November 2024.

[11] "长征八号甲运载火箭模型将首次亮相中国航展，计划 2025 年 1 月首飞" [Long March 8A rocket model will appear at the China Airshow for the first time; first launch planned for January 2025]. Sina.com. 9 November 2024. Retrieved 9 November 2024.

[12] "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. Retrieved 9 November 2024.

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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

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 Falcon 9 Block 5 Falcon Heavy Firefly Alpha Gravity-1 GSLV H-IIA 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 7 7A 8 11 11H 12 LVM3 Minotaur I IV V C 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 2-1v SSLV Starship Tianlong-2 Unha Vega C Vulcan Centaur Zhuque 2
In development	Antares 330 Bloostar Cyclone-4M Deca Epsilon S Eris Gravity-2 Hyperbola-2 Irtysh Kuaizhou 21 31 Long March 9 10 Miura 5 MLV Neutron New Glenn New Line 1 NGLV Nova OS-M 2 4 Orbex Prime Pallas-1 Red Dwarf 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-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 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^†
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)

CZ-8A variant

Launch statistics

List of launches

See also

References