Long March 8

Long March 8

Rendering of Long March 8 Y1
Function	Orbital launch vehicle
Manufacturer	China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT)
Country of origin	China
Size
Height	CZ-8 (core only): 48 m (157 ft)1 CZ-8: 50.34 m (165.2 ft) CZ-8A: 50.5 m (166 ft)2
Diameter	3.35 m (11.0 ft)
Mass	CZ-8 (core only): 198,000 kg (437,000 lb)1 CZ-8: 356,000 kg (785,000 lb) CZ-8A: 371,000 kg (818,000 lb)2
Stages	2
Capacity
Payload to SSO
Altitude	700 km (430 mi)
Mass	CZ-8 (core only): 3,000 kg (6,600 lb)1 CZ-8: 5,000 kg (11,000 lb) CZ-8A: 7,000 kg (15,000 lb)3
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	13 (8: 5, 8A: 8)
Success(es)	13 (8: 5, 8A: 8)
First flight	8: 22 December 2020 8A: 11 February 2025
Last flight	8: 7 April 2026 (most recent) 8A: 12 March 2026 (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 lbf) vac: 1,340 kN (300,000 lbf)
Total thrust	SL: 4,800 kN (1,100,000 lbf) vac: 5,360 kN (1,200,000 lbf)
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 lbf) vac: 2,680 kN (600,000 lbf)
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 lbf)
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 lbf)
Specific impulse	442.6 s (4.340 km/s)
Propellant	LH2 / LOX

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

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

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

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, 2025⁷ 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.

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