On the 9th December 2024 Hong Kong SAR- Beijing Time at CNSA –China National Space Administration– Wenchang Space Craft launch Center the Long March 8A Yao-1 rocket was loaded and shipped, and will make its first flight early next year On December 9, the Long March 8A Yao-1 carrier rocket was successfully loaded and headed for the Wenchang Space Launch Center in China. As China’s main rocket for medium and low orbits in the future, the Long March 8A rocket will carry out its first flight mission….
On the 12 March 2025, Hong Kong SAR- Beijing Time at CNSA –China National Space Administration– Wenchang Space Craft launch Center At 0:38 on March 12, the Long March 8 carrier rocket ignited and took off at the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Center, and then successfully sent the fifth batch of Qianfan constellation networking satellites into the predetermined orbit….
. The launch mission was a complete success, marking that China’s first commercial space launch site has the ability to launch dual-stations. This launch is the first launch of the No. 1 launch station of the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Center, and it is another capability test after the first successful launch of the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Center
The Long March 8 carrier rocket was developed by the First Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. The Long March 8 series of rockets are medium-sized carrier rockets designed and developed for China’s sun-synchronous orbit and low-orbit large constellation networking launch missions. There are currently three configurations. The Long March 8 rocket that performed this mission uses the basic configuration of bundling two boosters. “From the perspective of medium-sized launch vehicles of the same size in China, the carrying efficiency and carrying capacity of the Long March 8 series rockets are among the best. They can not only achieve large-scale mass production, but also have the ability to perform high-density launch missions. For China’s satellite network construction, especially the 1,100-kilometer orbit network launch mission, the Long March 8 series rockets have outstanding advantages.” Song Zhengyu, chief designer of the Long March 8 series rockets, said.
In this mission, the Long March 8 rocket innovatively adopted the new three-vertical test and launch mode. During the vertical transportation process, the rocket body was divided into three sections for transportation. The core first-stage booster assembly, the core second-stage rocket body, and the star cover assembly were transported to the launch area by road in a vertical state. The rocket completed vertical assembly, testing and launch at the launch area, and has the ability to launch in 7 days and recover in 7 days, which can meet the future high-density launch needs. In addition, the Long March 8 rocket launch team also unified the management of personnel at the No. 1 station, the filling and gas supply system, and the smart launch site system, and formed a professional test and launch team to optimize the job setting and personnel allocation, further improving the test and launch efficiency.
Previously, the Long March 8 rocket was launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in China. This mission is the fourth launch of the Long March 8 rocket, and it is also the first time that it has carried out a launch mission at the No. 1 station of Hainan Commercial Aircraft Corporation. Before the launch, the Long March 8 rocket conducted several joint exercises at the No. 1 station to fully verify the coordination and matching of the launch site system. “The successful completion of this mission marks that the Long March 8 rocket officially has its own new station, which provides the basic conditions for the high-intensity and high-density launch of the Long March 8 rocket this year. It means that the Long March 8 rocket has officially entered the market and can provide customers with fast, efficient and high-quality services.” said Xiao Yun, chief commander of the Long March 8 series
The No. 1 launch station of the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Center is a suitable station for the Long March 8 series of carrier rockets.
The fifth batch of Qianfan constellation networking satellites were provided with launch services by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Great Wall Company as the general contractor. The fifth batch of Qianfan constellation networking satellites were provided with launch services by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Great Wall Company as the general contractor. Qianfan constellation was built and operated by Shanghai Yuanxin Satellite Technology Co
This launch is the 563rd launch of the Long March series of carrier rockets
Images and visuals are from their Respectives CMS China Manned SpaceCNSA-China National Space Administration
