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]

Design

The rocket is based on the Long March 7 with its dual engine first stage and single engine boosters, along with the existing liquid hydrogen burning third stage of the Long March 3A/3B/3C and 7A 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]

In 2018 it was planned that a 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]

History

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

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

CZ-8A variant

Rendering of CZ-8A

An upgraded version of the Long March 8, the Long 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 altitude sun-synchronous orbit.

Its hydrolox 2nd stage has a larger diameter (to match the 3.35 meters diameter core stage), and has 2 upgraded versions of the YF-75D engines (known as the YF-75H) with increased thrust to 10 tonnes each through measures such as increased turbopump speeds.

According to a public announcement published by China's bureau of procurement on its information platform in June 2026, the China Academy of Sciences has applied for the single-source procurement of a Long March launch vehicle to launch the Enhanced X-ray Timing and Polarimetry Observatory (liekly for a Long March 8A to launch in 2030). The prospective contract amount is for 245.2 million RMB (about $36.1 million at 2026 exchange rate).[8]

The Long March 8A can also use a larger 5.2 meters diameter payload fairing.

Launch statistics

Launch outcomes

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
2020
'21
'22
'23
'24
'25
'26
  •   Failure
  •   Partial failure
  •   Success
  •   Planned

Rocket configurations

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
2020
'21
'22
'23
'24
'25
'26
  •   CZ-8 core only
  •   CZ-8 standard
  •   CZ-8A

List of launches

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "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.
  2. 1 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.
  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. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. 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.
  6. 1 2 Jones, Andrew (22 December 2020). "China launches first Long March 8 from Wenchang spaceport". SpaceNews. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  7. ↑ Jones, Andrew (11 February 2025). "First launch of Long March 8A sends second group of Guowang megaconstellation satellites into orbit". SpaceNews. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  8. ↑ "中国科学院中国科学院国家空间科学中心单一来源采购中国科学院国家空间科学中心增强型X射线时变与偏振空间天文台运载火箭征求意见公示". CCGP.gov.cn. 8 June 2026. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
  9. ↑ "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.
  10. 1 2 Jones, Andrew (27 February 2022). "China launches national record 22 satellites on Long March 8 commercial rideshare". SpaceNews. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  11. ↑ "China launches new relay satellite for Earth-Moon communications". Xinhua. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  12. ↑ Jones, Andrew (11 February 2025). "First launch of Long March 8A sends second group of Guowang megaconstellation satellites into orbit". SpaceNews. Retrieved 11 February 2025.
  13. ↑ "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.
  14. ↑ Jones, Andrew (11 February 2025). "First launch of Long March 8A sends second group of Guowang megaconstellation satellites into orbit". SpaceNews. Retrieved 11 February 2025.[dubious – discuss]
  15. ↑ Jones, Andrew (11 February 2025). "First launch of Long March 8A sends second group of Guowang megaconstellation satellites into orbit". SpaceNews. Retrieved 11 February 2025.[dubious – discuss]
  16. ↑ "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.[dubious – discuss]
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_March_8