Long March family
Long March 8A
The Long March 8A is an orbital launch vehicle developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology based on the Long March 8. It has an 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 2nd stage, coupled with 2 upgraded version of the YF-75D engines used on the Long March 5 (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.
Long March 8A is built by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation of China. It first flew on 11 February 2025.
Flight record
Payload
| Low Earth orbit | 9,800kg |
|---|---|
| Sun-synchronous orbit | 7,000kg |
| Geostationary transfer orbit | 3,500kg |
Vehicle
| Stages | 2 |
|---|---|
| Length | 50.5m |
| Diameter | 3.35m |
| Launch mass | 371t |
| Liftoff thrust | 4,800kN |
| Maiden flight | 2025-02-11 |
| Reusable | No |
Pads used
Orbits delivered
Launch history
| Date | Mission | Pad | Orbit | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-23 | Long March 8A | SatNet LEO Group 26 | Commercial LC-1 | Low Earth Orbit | Success |
| 2026-08-04 | Long March 8A | SatNet LEO Group 23 | Commercial LC-1 | Low Earth Orbit | Success |
| 2026-07-05 | Long March 8A | SpaceSail Polar Group #14 | Commercial LC-1 | Polar Orbit | Success |
| 2026-03-12 | Long March 8A | SatNet LEO Group 20 | Commercial LC-1 | Low Earth Orbit | Success |
| 2026-01-13 | Long March 8A | SatNet LEO Group 18 | Commercial LC-1 | Low Earth Orbit | Success |
| 2025-12-25 | Long March 8A | SatNet LEO Group 17 | Commercial LC-1 | Low Earth Orbit | Success |
| 2025-12-06 | Long March 8A | SatNet LEO Group 14 | Commercial LC-1 | Low Earth Orbit | Success |
| 2025-10-16 | Long March 8A | SatNet LEO Group 12 | Commercial LC-1 | Low Earth Orbit | Success |
| 2025-08-25 | Long March 8A | SatNet LEO Group 10 | Commercial LC-1 | Low Earth Orbit | Success |
| 2025-07-30 | Long March 8A | SatNet LEO Group 06 | Commercial LC-1 | Low Earth Orbit | Success |
| 2025-02-11 | Long March 8A | SatNet LEO Group 02 (Demo Flight) | 201 | Low Earth Orbit | Success |
| 2026-10-22 | Long March 8A | Unknown Payload | Commercial LC-1 | Unknown | Scheduled |
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