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Long March 8
Chinese orbital launch vehicle From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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]
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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]
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]
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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
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. 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
Launch outcomes
1
2
3
4
5
2020
'21
'22
'23
'24
'25
'26
- Failure
- Partial failure
- Success
- Planned
Rocket configurations
1
2
3
2020
'21
'22
'23
'24
'25
- CZ-8 core only
- CZ-8 standard
- CZ-8A
List of launches
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See also
References
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