Long March family
Long March 8
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). The rocket is based on the Long March 7 with its first stage and 2 out of its 4 boosters, along with the existing liquid hydrogen burning 3rd stage of the Long March 3A/3B/3C and 7A as its 2nd stage. A "Core Only" version omitting the boosters is also available.
Long March 8 is built by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation of China. It first flew on 22 December 2020.
Flight record
Payload
| Low Earth orbit | 8,100kg |
|---|---|
| Sun-synchronous orbit | 5,000kg |
| Geostationary transfer orbit | 2,800kg |
Vehicle
| Stages | 2 |
|---|---|
| Length | 50.34m |
| Diameter | 3.35m |
| Launch mass | 356t |
| Liftoff thrust | 4,800kN |
| Maiden flight | 2020-12-22 |
| Reusable | No |
Pads used
Orbits delivered
Launch history
| Date | Mission | Pad | Orbit | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-05 | Long March 8 | SpaceSail Polar Group #12 | Commercial LC-1 | Polar Orbit | Success |
| 2026-05-17 | Long March 8 | SpaceSail Polar Group #9 | Commercial LC-1 | Polar Orbit | Success |
| 2026-04-07 | Long March 8 | SpaceSail Polar Group #7 | Commercial LC-1 | Polar Orbit | Success |
| 2025-03-11 | Long March 8 | SpaceSail Polar Group #5 | Commercial LC-1 | Polar Orbit | Success |
| 2024-03-20 | Long March 8 | Queqiao-2 | 201 | Lunar Orbit | Success |
| 2020-12-22 | Long March 8 | XJY-7 & others | 201 | Sun-Synchronous Orbit | Success |
Specifications from Launch Library 2 by The Space Devs, launch records from Space Index. Derived figures are computed here; see sources and method.
Further reading: Wikipedia