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.
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, and has 2 upgraded versions of the YF-75D engines 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
Rocket configurations
List of launches
| Flight No. | Variant | Variant serial Nr. | Date / time | Launch site | Payload | Orbit | Outcome |
| 1 | CZ-8 | Y1 | 22 December 2020 04:37 | Wenchang, LC2 | Xinjishu Yanzheng 7 Haisi-1 Tianqi Xingzuo 08 Yuanguang-1 ET-SMART-RSS | SSO | |
| 2 | CZ-8 | Y2 | 27 February 2022 03:06 | Wenchang, LC2 | Dayun Hainan-1 01, 02 Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D 10–18 Jilin-1 Mofang-02A 01 Qimingxing-1 Taijing-3 01 Taijing-4 01 Tianxian-1 Chuangxing Leishen Wenchang-1 01, 02 XD-1 Tianqi-19 | SSO | |
| 3 | CZ-8 | Y3 | 20 March 2024 00:31 | Wenchang, LC2 | Queqiao-2 Tiandu-1 Tiandu-2 | Lunar | |
| 4 | CZ-8A | Y1 | 11 February 2025 09:30 | Wenchang, LC2 | Huliangwang × 9 | LEO | |
| 5 | CZ-8 | Y6 | 11 March 2025 16:38 | Wenchang Commercial, LC1 | Qianfan × 18 | Polar | |
| 6 | CZ-8A | Y3 | 30 July 2025 07:49 | Wenchang Commercial, LC1 | Huliangwang × 9 | LEO | |
| 7 | CZ-8A | Y2 | 25 August 2025 19:08 | Wenchang Commercial, LC1 | Huliangwang × 9 | LEO | |
| 8 | CZ-8A | Y4 | 16 October 2025 01:33 | Wenchang Commercial, LC1 | Huliangwang × 9 | LEO | |
| 9 | CZ-8A | Y5 | 6 December 2025 07:53 | Wenchang Commercial, LC1 | Huliangwang × 9 | LEO | |
| 10 | CZ-8A | Y6 | 25 December 2025 23:26 | Wenchang Commercial, LC1 | Huliangwang × 9 | LEO | |
| 11 | CZ-8A | Y7 | 13 January 2026 15:25 | Wenchang Commercial, LC1 | Huliangwang × 9 | LEO | |
| CZ-8 | Y5 | 2026 | Wenchang Commercial, LC1 | Qianfan × 18 | Polar |