Long March 8

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).

Long March 8
Size
Rendering of Long March 8 Y1
Function	Orbital launch vehicle
Manufacturer	China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT)
Country of origin	China
Height	CZ-8 (core only): 48 m (157 ft) CZ-8: 50.34 m (165.2 ft) CZ-8A: 50.5 m (166 ft)
Diameter	3.35 m (11.0 ft)
Mass	CZ-8 (core only): 198,000 kg (437,000 lb) CZ-8: 356,000 kg (785,000 lb) CZ-8A: 371,000 kg (818,000 lb)
Stages	2
Capacity
Payload to SSO
Altitude	700 km (430 mi)
Mass	CZ-8 (core only): 3,000 kg (6,600 lb) CZ-8: 5,000 kg (11,000 lb) CZ-8A: 7,000 kg (15,000 lb)
Payload to LEO
Mass	8,100 kg (17,900 lb)
Payload to GTO
Mass	2,800 kg (6,200 lb)
Payload to TLI
Mass	1,500 kg (3,300 lb)

Associated rockets
Comparable	Soyuz-2 Antares Falcon 9 Atlas V Ariane 6 H3
Launch history
Status	Active
Launch sites	Wenchang, LC-2 Wenchang Commercial, LC-1
Total launches	9 (8: 4, 8A: 5)
Success(es)	9 (8: 4, 8A: 5)
First flight	8: 22 December 2020 8A: 11 February 2025
Last flight	8: 11 March 2025 (most recent) 8A: 6 December 2025 (most recent)

Boosters – K2
No. boosters	0 or 2
Height	26.903 m (88.26 ft)
Diameter	2.25 m (7 ft 5 in)
Powered by	1 × YF-100
Maximum thrust	SL: 1,200 kN (270,000 lb_f) vac: 1,340 kN (300,000 lb_f)
Total thrust	SL: 4,800 kN (1,100,000 lb_f) vac: 5,360 kN (1,200,000 lb_f)
Specific impulse	SL: 300 s (2.9 km/s) vac: 335 s (3.29 km/s)
Propellant	RP-1 / LOX
First stage – K3
Height	25.083 m (82.29 ft)
Diameter	3.35 m (11.0 ft)
Powered by	2 × YF-100
Maximum thrust	SL: 2,400 kN (540,000 lb_f) vac: 2,680 kN (600,000 lb_f)
Specific impulse	SL: 300 s (2.9 km/s) vac: 335 s (3.29 km/s)
Propellant	RP-1 / LOX
Second stage (CZ-8)
Height	12.375 m (40.60 ft)
Diameter	3 m (9.8 ft)
Powered by	2 × YF-75
Maximum thrust	167.17 kN (37,580 lb_f)
Specific impulse	438 s (4.30 km/s)
Propellant	LH₂ / LOX
Second stage (CZ-8A)
Height	12.375 m (40.60 ft)
Diameter	3.35 m (11.0 ft)
Powered by	2 × YF-75H
Maximum thrust	200 kN (45,000 lb_f)
Specific impulse	442.6 s (4.340 km/s)
Propellant	LH₂ / LOX

[edit on Wikidata]

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.

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.

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 (Chinese: 长征八号甲运载火箭), has successfully debuted on February 11, 2025 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

6

2020

'21

'22

'23

'24

'25

'26

Failure
Partial failure
Success
Planned

Rocket configurations

1.2

2.4

3.6

4.8

6