Long March 8

Long March 8 () 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).

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.

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.

History

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

The "core only" variant first flew in February 2022.

CZ-8A variant

An upgraded version of the Long March 8, the Long March 8A (), has successfully debuted on February 11, 2025 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).

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

Launch statistics

Launch outcomes

Rocket configurations

List of launches

Flight No. Variant Variant serial Nr. Date / time(UTC) Launch site Payload Orbit Outcome 1 CZ-8 Y1 22 December 202004:37 Wenchang, LC2 Xinjishu Yanzheng 7 (XJY-7)Haisi-1Tianqi Xingzuo 08 (Ping'an-1)Yuanguang-1ET-SMART-RSS (Zhixing-1A) SSO 2 CZ-8 (core only) Y2 27 February 202203:06 Wenchang, LC2 Dayun (Xingshidai-17)Hainan-1 01, 02Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D 10–18Jilin-1 Mofang-02A 01Qimingxing-1Taijing-3 01Taijing-4 01Tianxian-1 (Chaohu-1)Chuangxing LeishenWenchang-1 01, 02XD-1Tianqi-19 SSO 3 CZ-8 Y3 20 March 202400:31 Wenchang, LC2 Queqiao-2Tiandu-1Tiandu-2 Lunar 4 CZ-8A Y1 11 February 202509:30 Wenchang, LC2 Huliangwang × 9 (SatNet LEO Group 02) LEO 5 CZ-8 Y6 11 March 202516:38 Wenchang Commercial, LC1 Qianfan × 18 (G60 Polar Group 05) Polar 6 CZ-8A Y3 30 July 202507:49 Wenchang Commercial, LC1 Huliangwang × 9 (SatNet LEO Group 06) LEO 7 CZ-8A Y2 25 August 202519:08 Wenchang Commercial, LC1 Huliangwang × 9 (SatNet LEO Group 10) LEO 8 CZ-8A Y4 16 October 202501:33 Wenchang Commercial, LC1 Huliangwang × 9 (SatNet LEO Group 12) LEO 9 CZ-8A Y5 6 December 202507:53 Wenchang Commercial, LC1 Huliangwang × 9 (SatNet LEO Group 14) LEO 10 CZ-8A Y6 25 December 202523:26 Wenchang Commercial, LC1 Huliangwang × 9 (SatNet LEO Group 17) LEO 11 CZ-8A Y7 13 January 202615:25 Wenchang Commercial, LC1 Huliangwang × 9 (SatNet LEO Group 18) LEO 12 CZ-8A Y8 12 March 202619:48 Wenchang Commercial, LC1 Huliangwang × 9 (SatNet LEO Group 20) LEO 13 CZ-8 Y7 7 April 202613:32 Wenchang Commercial, LC1 Qianfan × 18 (G60 Polar Group 07) Polar 14 CZ-8 Y8 17 May 202614:42 Wenchang Commercial, LC1 Qianfan × 18 (G60 Polar Group #9) Polar 15 CZ-8 Y9 5 June 202606:34 Wenchang Commercial, LC1 Qianfan × 18 (G60 Polar Group 12) Polar 16 CZ-8A Y9 5 July 202613:43 Wenchang Commercial, LC1 Qianfan × 20 (G60 Polar Group 14) Polar 17 CZ-8A Y10 4 August 202608:52 Wenchang Commercial, LC1 Huliangwang × 9 (SatNet LEO Group 23) LEO 18 CZ-8A Y11? 23 September 202613:32 Wenchang Commercial, LC1 Huliangwang × 9 (SatNet LEO Group 26) LEO

Long March 8

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