Hainan Province, south China - March 7, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of Long March 8A carrier rocket being transferred to launch pad
2. Various of rocket at launch pad

A Long March 8A carrier rocket was transferred to the launch pad at Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site in southern China on Saturday for an upcoming mission.

The Long March-8A carrier rocket, designed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), represents a significant upgrade to the Long March-8 series. It successfully conducted its maiden flight on Feb 11, 2025.

The rocket, 50.5 meters long with a takeoff weight of 371 tonnes, is capable of carrying up to seven tonnes to a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 700 km.

It is designed specifically for high-density, rapid constellation deployment, serving as a core vehicle for China's satellite internet constellation construction.

So far, it has successfully completed seven missions.

About 15 launch missions are scheduled for the Long March 8 series rockets this year, involving both the Long March 8A and Long March 8 rockets.

As a new-generation medium-lift liquid-fueled carrier rocket, the Long March 8 series rockets have become the mainstay for China's low-to-medium orbit satellite launches since its maiden flight, thanks to its modular design, high cost-effectiveness, and rapid response capabilities.