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Launch Vehicles
Vehicle family profile

Long March 5

长征五号

Family-level launch record combining canonical variants, historical missions, public cadence forecasts, and available payload performance specs.

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. (CASC)Active
Admin
Variants
2
Canonical variants linked to this family.
Historical missions
18
Missions in the public mission table with actual launch dates.
Peak listed capacity
25,000 kg
Maximum payload capacity across listed variants and orbits.

Launch Cadence

Historical missions are grouped by actual launch year. Forecast cadence uses family-level launch-rate rows.

YearHistorical missionsForecast launches
201910
202030
202110
202220
202310
202430
202540
2026110
2027010
2028010
2029010
2030010
2031010
2032010
2033010
2034010
2035010

Performance Specs

Payload capacity by variant and target orbit when structured capacity rows are available.

VariantOrbitCapacityAltitudeInclinationSource
Long March 5
LEO25,000 kgUnknownUnknownCNSA Long March 5 page
Long March 5B
LEO25,000 kgUnknownUnknownCASC / SpaceChina Long March 5B page

Recent Missions

Latest launched missions using variants in this family.

MissionVariantLaunch
TJS 25
Long March 5
Jun 11, 2026
TJS 23
Long March 5
Dec 20, 2025
TJS 20
Long March 5
Oct 23, 2025
WHDW 08

Variants

Canonical variants rolled up into this launch vehicle family.

VariantStagesMissionsStatus
Long March 5
Not stated11Active
Long March 5B
Not stated7Active
2036010
2037010
2038010
2039010
2040010
2041010

Forecast Location Split

1 launch location represented.

YearLocationLaunchesConfidenceBasis
2026Wenchang Space Launch Site1022%China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume con...
2027Wenchang Space Launch Site1022%China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume con...
2028Wenchang Space Launch Site1022%China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume con...
2029Wenchang Space Launch Site1022%China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume con...
2030Wenchang Space Launch Site1022%China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume con...
2031Wenchang Space Launch Site1022%China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume con...
2032Wenchang Space Launch Site1022%China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume con...
2033Wenchang Space Launch Site1022%China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume con...
2034Wenchang Space Launch Site1022%China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume con...
2035Wenchang Space Launch Site1022%China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume con...
2036Wenchang Space Launch Site1022%China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume con...
2037Wenchang Space Launch Site1022%China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume con...
2038Wenchang Space Launch Site1022%China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume con...
2039Wenchang Space Launch Site1022%China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume con...
2040Wenchang Space Launch Site1022%China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume con...
2041Wenchang Space Launch Site1022%China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume con...
Wenchang Space Launch Site
2026 · 22% confidence
10

China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume constellation deploymen...

Wenchang Space Launch Site
2027 · 22% confidence
10

China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume constellation deploymen...

Wenchang Space Launch Site
2028 · 22% confidence
10

China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume constellation deploymen...

Wenchang Space Launch Site
2029 · 22% confidence
10

China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume constellation deploymen...

Wenchang Space Launch Site
2030 · 22% confidence
10

China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume constellation deploymen...

Long March 5
SSO15,000 kg700 kmUnknownChinese Long March 5 secondary reference
Long March 5B
SSO15,000 kg700 kmUnknownChinese Long March 5 family page
Long March 5
GTO14,000 kgUnknownUnknownCNSA Long March 5 page
Long March 5B
Aug 13, 2025
WHDW 03
Long March 5B
Apr 28, 2025
WHDW 01
Long March 5B
Dec 16, 2024
Chang'e-6
Long March 5
May 3, 2024
TJS 11
Long March 5
Feb 23, 2024

Forecasted Missions

Upcoming mission rows with announced launch timing.

MissionVariantAnnounced

No forecasted missions

No upcoming announced mission rows are linked to this vehicle family.

Track
Wenchang Space Launch Site
2031 · 22% confidence
10

China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume constellation deploymen...

Wenchang Space Launch Site
2032 · 22% confidence
10

China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume constellation deploymen...

Wenchang Space Launch Site
2033 · 22% confidence
10

China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume constellation deploymen...

Wenchang Space Launch Site
2034 · 22% confidence
10

China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume constellation deploymen...

Wenchang Space Launch Site
2035 · 22% confidence
10

China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume constellation deploymen...

Wenchang Space Launch Site
2036 · 22% confidence
10

China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume constellation deploymen...

Wenchang Space Launch Site
2037 · 22% confidence
10

China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume constellation deploymen...

Mentions
322
All verified mentions of this launch vehicle family in source documents.
0.0-5.0
Actions

CZ-5, possibly with DFH-5, is reported for the very end of September.

PlanValue 3.0Sep 1, 2025R to @TAbusnardo: Sept: 3 Notam (5/9 CZ-3C, 6/9 CZ-6A, 8/9 JL-3) CZ-7A widely reported for 9th CZ-8A Y4 in HCSLC and may launch at end of month CZ-5 (w/DFH-5?) also reported for very end, both may slip to Oct. CZ-2C/YZ-1S is expected for mid/late sept; JL-3 Y8 late Ceres-1, LJ-1, KZ-11 possible

The Long March-5B rocket has a LEO capacity of about 25,000 kilograms, while the Long March-8A has a capacity of 7,000 kilograms.

Capability
Page6of17
Value 4.0
Jun 16, 2025
Developing and testing China’s Guowang constellation

The first satellites for the national Guowang megaconstellation, which has a planned 13,000 satellites, launched on a Long March 5B rocket on 2024-12-16.

PlanCapabilityGeneralValue 4.2Dec 30, 2024Satellite manufacturer for Chinese megaconstellation secures $137 million funding

A Long March 5B rocket with a Yuanzheng-2 upper stage launched from Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on 2024-12-16 at 1000 UTC carrying the first group of satellites for China’s Guowang megaconstellation.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Dec 16, 2024China kicks off Guowang megaconstellation with Long March 5B launch

A Long March 5B rocket appears set to launch what could be the first Guowang megaconstellation satellites from Wenchang on 2024-12-16.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Dec 13, 2024China launches “laser diamond constellation test” satellites

The Long March 10 is built on the heritage of the Long March 5 and is designed to be more capable to enable crewed lunar missions.

CapabilityValue 3.5Nov 20, 2024China performs fairing separation test for crewed moon mission rocket

China's Long March 5 rocket can carry 25,000 kilograms into low Earth orbit but is not reusable.

CapabilityValue 4.0Aug 19, 2024The new Moon race: Assessing Chinese and US strategies

Chang'e-6 launched on a Long March 5 rocket from Wenchang on 2024-05-03.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0May 6, 2024China’s Chang’e-6 is carrying a surprise rover to the moon

The eighth Long March 5 rocket was vertically transferred to the pad at Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on Hainan island on 2024-04-27.

PlanGeneralValue 3.5Apr 29, 2024China ready to launch lunar far side sample return mission

The Long March 5 is China’s largest, most powerful operational launch vehicle and has launched major missions including Chang’e-5 and the Tianwen-1 Mars mission.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Apr 29, 2024China ready to launch lunar far side sample return mission

Yaogan-41 was placed into geosynchronous orbit in late 2023 on a Long March 5 rocket using a new 18.5-meter-long, 5.2-meter-diameter payload fairing.

CapabilityPlanValue 4.0Apr 22, 2024China launches second Yaogan-42 reconnaissance satellite

Yaogan-41 launched on a Long March 5 rocket using a new elongated payload fairing measuring 18.5 m long and 5.2 m in diameter.

CapabilityPlanValue 4.0Apr 3, 2024China launches first of a new series of Yaogan reconnaissance satellites

China’s Tianwen-3 mission architecture uses two Long March 5 launches to carry a lander and ascent vehicle on one launch and an orbiter and return module on the other.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.0Mar 8, 2024China targets 2030 for Mars sample return mission, potential landing areas revealed

China’s 2024 Long March 5 launches include the classified TJS-11 satellite and the Chang’e-6 mission expected in 2024-05-01.

PlanValue 4.2Feb 26, 2024China’s 2024 space plans include 100 launches and moon sample return mission

The Long March 5 has launched seven times since its 2016 debut and experienced a grounded period of more than 900 days after a second-launch failure.

PlanGeneralValue 3.0Feb 26, 2024China’s 2024 space plans include 100 launches and moon sample return mission

CASC is planning four launches of the Long March 5 in 2024 and a further five Long March 5 missions in 2025.

PlanGrowthValue 4.0Feb 26, 2024China’s 2024 space plans include 100 launches and moon sample return mission

The time between the Long March 5 launch of Yaogan-41 and the TJS-11 launch was 70 days, the shortest interval between Long March 5 launches to date.

PlanValue 3.8Feb 23, 2024China launches classified military satellite towards geostationary belt

China plans the Chang’e-6 lunar far side sample return mission to fly on the next Long March 5.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Feb 23, 2024China launches classified military satellite towards geostationary belt

The Long March 5 can loft 14,000 kg into geosynchronous transfer orbit.

CapabilityValue 4.0Feb 23, 2024China launches classified military satellite towards geostationary belt

The Long March 5 is required to launch China’s largest satellite bus, the DFH-5.

CapabilityPlanValue 4.0Feb 23, 2024China launches classified military satellite towards geostationary belt