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Launch Vehicles
Vehicle family profile

Long March 2

长征二号

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
13
Canonical variants linked to this family.
Historical missions
233
Missions in the public mission table with actual launch dates.
Peak listed capacity
8,400 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
201920
2020110
2021140
2022240
2023250
2024180
2025130
202698
202708
202808
202908
203008
203108
203208
203308
203408
203508

Performance Specs

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

VariantOrbitCapacityAltitudeInclinationSource
Long March 2F G
LEO8,400 kgUnknownUnknownManual Long March crew-launch vehicle capacity fallback.
Long March 2F T
LEO8,400 kgUnknownUnknownManual Long March crew-launch vehicle capacity copied from sibling Chang Zheng 2F G row.
Long March 2C
LEO3,850 kgUnknownUnknownRocketLaunch.org Long March 2C vehicle page

Recent Missions

Latest launched missions using variants in this family.

MissionVariantLaunch
WHJSW 10
Long March 2D
May 30, 2026
Shenzhou 23 Mission
Long March 2F G
May 24, 2026
WHJSW 9-1 to 9-4
Long March 2D
Apr 24, 2026
Shiyan 33 Mission

Variants

Canonical variants rolled up into this launch vehicle family.

VariantStagesMissionsStatus
Long March 2
Not stated2Retired
Long March 2C
Not stated50Active
Long March 2C a
Not stated2Retired
Long March 2C b
Not stated26Retired
203608
203708
203808
203908
204008
204108

Forecast Location Split

1 launch location represented.

YearLocationLaunchesConfidenceBasis
2026China inland launch centers | aggregate825%Editable low-confidence Long March workhorse variant annual throughput default.
2027China inland launch centers | aggregate825%Editable low-confidence Long March workhorse variant annual throughput default.
2028China inland launch centers | aggregate825%Editable low-confidence Long March workhorse variant annual throughput default.
2029China inland launch centers | aggregate825%Editable low-confidence Long March workhorse variant annual throughput default.
2030China inland launch centers | aggregate825%Editable low-confidence Long March workhorse variant annual throughput default.
2031China inland launch centers | aggregate825%Editable low-confidence Long March workhorse variant annual throughput default.
2032China inland launch centers | aggregate825%Editable low-confidence Long March workhorse variant annual throughput default.
2033China inland launch centers | aggregate825%Editable low-confidence Long March workhorse variant annual throughput default.
2034China inland launch centers | aggregate825%Editable low-confidence Long March workhorse variant annual throughput default.
2035China inland launch centers | aggregate825%Editable low-confidence Long March workhorse variant annual throughput default.
2036China inland launch centers | aggregate825%Editable low-confidence Long March workhorse variant annual throughput default.
2037China inland launch centers | aggregate825%Editable low-confidence Long March workhorse variant annual throughput default.
2038China inland launch centers | aggregate825%Editable low-confidence Long March workhorse variant annual throughput default.
2039China inland launch centers | aggregate825%Editable low-confidence Long March workhorse variant annual throughput default.
2040China inland launch centers | aggregate825%Editable low-confidence Long March workhorse variant annual throughput default.
2041China inland launch centers | aggregate825%Editable low-confidence Long March workhorse variant annual throughput default. Site-year coverage backfill copied nearest prior site-rate row.
China inland launch centers | aggregate
2026 · 25% confidence
8

Editable low-confidence Long March workhorse variant annual throughput default.

China inland launch centers | aggregate
2027 · 25% confidence
8

Editable low-confidence Long March workhorse variant annual throughput default.

China inland launch centers | aggregate
2028 · 25% confidence
8

Editable low-confidence Long March workhorse variant annual throughput default.

China inland launch centers | aggregate
2029 · 25% confidence
8

Editable low-confidence Long March workhorse variant annual throughput default.

China inland launch centers | aggregate
2030 · 25% confidence
8

Editable low-confidence Long March workhorse variant annual throughput default.

China inland launch centers | aggregate
2031 · 25% confidence
8

Editable low-confidence Long March workhorse variant annual throughput default.

Long March 2C
SSO2,500 kg700 kmUnknownCASC Long March 2C/YZ-1S launch report
Long March 2D
SSO1,300 kg700 kmUnknownSAST Long March 2D launch report
Long March 2C
GTO1,250 kgUnknownUnknownRocketLaunch.org Long March 2C vehicle page
Long March 2C
Mar 27, 2026
Siwei Gaojing 2-05/06
Long March 2D
Mar 25, 2026
Shiyan 30 03/04
Long March 2D
Mar 12, 2026
CSSHQ
Long March 2F T
Feb 7, 2026
Alsat-3B
Long March 2C
Jan 31, 2026

Forecasted Missions

Upcoming mission rows with announced launch timing.

MissionVariantAnnounced

No forecasted missions

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

Long March 2C-III
Not stated7Retired
Long March 2C SM
Not stated2Retired
Long March 2C SMA
Not stated3Retired
Long March 2D
Not stated102Active
Long March 2D a
Not stated3Retired
Long March 2E
Not stated7Retired
Long March 2F
Not stated7Retired
Long March 2F G
Not stated16Active
Long March 2F T
Not stated6Active
Track
China inland launch centers | aggregate
2032 · 25% confidence
8

Editable low-confidence Long March workhorse variant annual throughput default.

China inland launch centers | aggregate
2033 · 25% confidence
8

Editable low-confidence Long March workhorse variant annual throughput default.

China inland launch centers | aggregate
2034 · 25% confidence
8

Editable low-confidence Long March workhorse variant annual throughput default.

China inland launch centers | aggregate
2035 · 25% confidence
8

Editable low-confidence Long March workhorse variant annual throughput default.

China inland launch centers | aggregate
2036 · 25% confidence
8

Editable low-confidence Long March workhorse variant annual throughput default.

China inland launch centers | aggregate
2037 · 25% confidence
8

Editable low-confidence Long March workhorse variant annual throughput default.

Mentions
393
All verified mentions of this launch vehicle family in source documents.
0.0-5.0
Actions

The Long March 2C can deliver 3,850 kilograms to low Earth orbit, 1,900 kilograms to sun-synchronous orbit, and 1,250 kilograms to geostationary transfer orbit.

CapabilityValue 4.6Mar 27, 2026Mysterious Shiyan Research Satellite Launched From Cloudy Jiuquan [Long March 2C/YZ-1S]

The launch at Jiuquan SLC had been assigned four different Chinese rockets before being settled on a Long March 2C with a Yuanzheng-1S upper stage.

Plan
Page3of20
General
Value 3.6
Mar 27, 2026
Waiting for news for this one now (could be a while given possible upper stage involvement) - I surely hope not that the correct launch vehicle is a 5th one LMAO.

A Long March 2C rocket with a Yuanzheng-1S upper stage launched successfully at 04:11 UTC on March 27, 2026.

PlanValue 4.0Mar 27, 2026Alright, crisis averted for this one - though the answer only throws out more questions. This IS indeed a Long March 2C w/ YZ-1S upper stage launch, it did happen at 04:11 UTC successfully - but no wonder this launch has so many Q marks - it's for a certain "thingy", Shiyan 33.

The Long March 2C launch carried a single payload toward sun-synchronous orbit.

CapabilityGeneralValue 3.0Mar 27, 2026Mysterious Shiyan Research Satellite Launched From Cloudy Jiuquan [Long March 2C/YZ-1S]

The Long March 2C is used for missions to low Earth orbit and sun-synchronous orbit.

CapabilityValue 3.0Mar 27, 2026Mysterious Shiyan Research Satellite Launched From Cloudy Jiuquan [Long March 2C/YZ-1S]

The Long March 2C is 42 meters tall and weighs 233,000 kilograms when fully fueled.

CapabilityValue 4.2Mar 27, 2026Mysterious Shiyan Research Satellite Launched From Cloudy Jiuquan [Long March 2C/YZ-1S]

This mission was the 87th launch of the Long March 2C.

GeneralValue 3.0Mar 27, 2026Mysterious Shiyan Research Satellite Launched From Cloudy Jiuquan [Long March 2C/YZ-1S]

The Long March 2C first stage uses four YF-21C engines that generate 302 tons of thrust.

CapabilityValue 4.6Mar 27, 2026Mysterious Shiyan Research Satellite Launched From Cloudy Jiuquan [Long March 2C/YZ-1S]

A Long March 2D rocket was being stacked for launch on March 26, 2026.

PlanValue 4.0Mar 26, 2026Long March 2D being stacked for launch:

After its latest upgrades, CALT's Long March 2C has about 100 kg more lift capability than SAST's Long March 2D.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Mar 25, 2026Actually I was wondering if this swap from CALT's LM-2C to SAST's LM-2D is for higher capability, but apparently after latest upgrades the 2C actually has a marginally higher lift (in the order of ~100 kg), so this is due to something else.

A Long March 2C launch vehicle was headed to sun-synchronous orbit.

PlanValue 3.0Mar 25, 2026That's 2 scrubs and 2 mysteries that doesn't seems to be going to be solved for some time (plus another coming soon). There's a 4th launch in the mix TODAY March 25 ~22:50 UTC @ Taiyuan SLC, but luckily there's a good match for the launcher & payloads - a LM-2C heading to SSO.

A mission swapped from CALT's Long March 2C to SAST's Long March 2D.

PlanValue 4.0Mar 25, 2026Actually I was wondering if this swap from CALT's LM-2C to SAST's LM-2D is for higher capability, but apparently after latest upgrades the 2C actually has a marginally higher lift (in the order of ~100 kg), so this is due to something else.

A Long March 2C rocket with a YZ-1 upper stage lifted off from Jiuquan on March 23, 2026.

GeneralPlanValue 4.0Mar 23, 2026A Long March 2C with a YZ-1 upper stage lifted off from Jiuquan within the last half an hour, so news of that launch coming a bit later.

The launch is not believed to use a Long March 2 or Long March 4 rocket or an SRB-based launcher.

GeneralValue 2.0Mar 17, 2026Here’s one of the news - a launch on March 19 ~04:00 UTC due south out of Jiuquan SLC, almost at 90º inclination, was identified w/ drop zones that I didn’t recognise. It certainly isn’t of the Long March 2/4 series or SRB based launchers. “New rocket! It HAS to be it!”

A Long March 2D rocket marked CZ-2D is at Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China.

GeneralValue 3.6Mar 13, 2026Meanwhile in Xichang, the mission (launch/satellites) patches leaves things for us to ponder on what went up a few hours ago:

The launch vehicle for the Xichang mission on March 12, 2026 is potentially a Long March 2D or the similar Long March 2C.

PlanGeneralValue 3.0Mar 12, 2026The same can’t be said of what seems to be a low-inclination LEO launch @ Xichang also today in just over 6 hours (March 12 ~22:30 UTC). It *seems* to be of a Long March 2D but who knows, it can be the very similar 2C or sth else… Did I not know the payload? But of course!

The Xichang launch vehicle was likely a Long March 2D but could instead be a Long March 2C.

GeneralPlanValue 2.0Mar 12, 2026Still waiting for official announcement of the LM-8A launch (apparently SatNet LEO Group 20, TBC), but the 2nd Chinese launch of the night/day is coming up in ~30 minutes:

Rong Yi, an Expert Rocket Designer who led development of the Long March 10A while serving as the Long March 2F’s Chief Designer, led the booster’s development.

GovernanceValue 3.0Feb 15, 2026Long March 10A Test Booster Flew As Expected Despite Grid Fin Issue, Rocket Designer Says

The Long March 2F payload capacity is 8,400 kilograms to low Earth orbit with Shenzhou’s abort systems.

CapabilityValue 4.5Feb 7, 2026China's Reusable Spaceplane Departs Jiuquan to Begin Fourth Mission [Long March 2F/T]

The Long March 2F second stage is powered by one YF-24B engine generating 85 tons of thrust and burning dinitrogen tetroxide and unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine.

CapabilityValue 5.0Feb 7, 2026China's Reusable Spaceplane Departs Jiuquan to Begin Fourth Mission [Long March 2F/T]