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December 22, 2020
China debuted the new Long March-8 – Chang Zheng-8 – launch vehicle out of Wenchang on Tuesday. This vehicle marks China’s move towards a reusable launch vehicle, with the recovery of the first stage and side boosters planned for a latter variant.
Loaded with a cargo of satellites, the first (Y1) Long March-8 (LM-8) was successfully launched at 04:00 UTC from the LC201 Launch Complex at the Wenchang Space Launch Center.
The LM-8 is developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), and its development aims to meet the demand for economical, medium-lift, high-frequency commercial missions.
The new launcher was first referenced in 2017. However, it was redesigned to feature recovery of its first stage and strap-on boosters. It is 50.34 meters high, with a diameter of 3.35 meters. Launch mass is 356,000 kg.
China s new space carrier rocket successfully launches five satellites on its maiden flight
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Last Updated: Dec 22, 2020, 04:11 PM IST
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Synopsis
The five experimental satellites will carry out the in-orbit verification of microwave imaging and other technologies. They will conduct experiments in space science, remote sensing and communication technologies, official media reported.
AFP
People watch a Long March-8 rocket, the latest China s Long March launch vehicle fleet, lifting off from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in southern China s Hainan province on December 22, 2020.
China s new medium-lift carrier rocket Long March-8 made its maiden flight on Tuesday, sending five satellites successfully into planned orbit, the country s space agency said.
by Douglas Messier
Managing Editor
China’s newest booster, Long March 8, successfully placed five satellites into sun-synchronous orbit on Tuesday from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center in a step toward partial reusability. The medium-lift booster blasted off at 12:37 p.m. local time from Hainan island carrying the classified XJY-7 remote sensing technology test satellite and four smaller payloads.
“The relevant satellite payloads will verify the microwave imaging and other technologies in orbit, and carry out space science, remote sensing, and communication technology experiments and applications,” the China National Space Administration said in a press release.
Long March 8 first stage with side boosters lands on offshore platform.
Long March 8 rocket lifts 5 satellites in debut flight
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The Long March 8 rocket waits for its debut flight. （Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn）
The Long March 8, the latest in China s Long March launch vehicle fleet, conducted its debut flight on Tuesday afternoon at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in South China s island province of Hainan.
The 50.3-meter rocket ignited its engines at 12:37 pm at a coastal launch pad, thundering skyward into thick layers of cloud.
After about 15 minutes, the rocket reached a sun-synchronous orbit with an altitude of 512 kilometers, and then deployed the New Technology Demonstrator 7 experimental satellite and four small private satellites.