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Launch Vehicles
Vehicle family profile

Long March 8

长征八号

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
3
Canonical variants linked to this family.
Historical missions
16
Missions in the public mission table with actual launch dates.
Peak listed capacity
9,800 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
202010
202210
202410
202570
202668
2027012
2028016
2029020
2030024
2031024
2032024
2033024
2034024
2035024
2036024
2037024
2038024

Performance Specs

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

VariantOrbitCapacityAltitudeInclinationSource
Long March 8A
LEO9,800 kgUnknownUnknownSpace Launch Now Long March 8A vehicle page
Long March 8
LEO7,600 kgUnknownUnknownEd Kyle Space Launch Report CZ-5/6/7/8 summary

Recent Missions

Latest launched missions using variants in this family.

MissionVariantLaunch
Qianfan Xingzuo 15
Long March 8A
Jul 5, 2026
Qianfan Xingzuo 12
Long March 8
Jun 5, 2026
Qianfan Xingzuo 09
Long March 8
May 17, 2026
Qianfan Xingzuo 07

Variants

Canonical variants rolled up into this launch vehicle family.

VariantStagesMissionsStatus
Long March 8
Not stated6Active
Long March 8 0
Not stated1Active
Long March 8A
Not stated9Active
2039024
2040024
2041024

Forecast Location Split

1 launch location represented.

YearLocationLaunchesConfidenceBasis
2026Wenchang Space Launch Site822%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 Site1222%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 Site1622%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 Site2022%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 Site2422%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 Site2422%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 Site2422%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 Site2422%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 Site2422%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 Site2422%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 Site2422%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 Site2422%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 Site2422%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 Site2422%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 Site2422%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 Site2422%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
8

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
12

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
16

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
20

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
24

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 8 0
LEO7,600 kgUnknownUnknownEd Kyle Space Launch Report CZ-5/6/7/8 summary copied from sibling Chang Zheng 8 row
Long March 8A
SSO7,000 kg700 kmUnknownCASC Long March 8A rollout report
Long March 8
SSO4,500 kg700 kmUnknownCNSA Long March 8 page
Long March 8 0
SSO4,500 kg700 kmUnknownCNSA Long March 8 page copied from sibling Chang Zheng 8 row
Long March 8A
GTO3,500 kgUnknownUnknownSpace Launch Now Long March 8A vehicle page
Long March 8 0
GTO2,500 kgUnknownUnknownEd Kyle Space Launch Report CZ-5/6/7/8 summary copied from sibling Chang Zheng 8 row
Long March 8
GTO2,500 kgUnknownUnknownEd Kyle Space Launch Report CZ-5/6/7/8 summary
Long March 8
Apr 7, 2026
WHDW 20
Long March 8A
Mar 12, 2026
WHDW 18
Long March 8A
Jan 13, 2026
WHDW 17
Long March 8A
Dec 25, 2025
WHDW 14
Long March 8A
Dec 6, 2025

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
24

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
24

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
24

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
24

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
24

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
24

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
24

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
359
All verified mentions of this launch vehicle family in source documents.
0.0-5.0
Actions

The Long March 8 has only flown from the Wenchang Space Launch Site and the Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site.

GeneralValue 2.0Apr 7, 2026Qianfan's Seventh Satellite Group Deployed Following Second Hiatus Period [Long March 8 Y7]

The rocket is labeled CZ-8.

Capability
Page5of18
Value 3.0
Apr 7, 2026
Launch mission patch:

The Long March 8 rocket is being phased out in favor of the Long March 8A variant.

PlanGrowthValue 3.0Apr 7, 2026And now SpaceLens is live for the launch that should happen within the next hour:

The Chinese Long March 8 rocket is being transported on a road.

GeneralValue 1.0Apr 7, 2026Being one of the "Big 2" Chinese LEO comsat constellations, & the one that's open to int'l public, SpaceSail/Qianfan should have been quite a competitor for @Starlink in many corners of the world. But their satellites having problems in orbit has severely delayed deployment.

The Long March 8 is developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology.

CapabilityGeneralValue 2.8Apr 7, 2026Qianfan's Seventh Satellite Group Deployed Following Second Hiatus Period [Long March 8 Y7]

The April 7 launch was the fifth launch of the Long March 8 and the thirteenth launch of the Long March 8 series.

PlanGeneralValue 3.0Apr 7, 2026Qianfan's Seventh Satellite Group Deployed Following Second Hiatus Period [Long March 8 Y7]

The April 7 Long March 8 mission carried eighteen Qianfan satellites for the Polar Group 07 constellation.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Apr 7, 2026Qianfan's Seventh Satellite Group Deployed Following Second Hiatus Period [Long March 8 Y7]

A stock Long March 8 rocket is on its launch pad at Wenchang for a launch scheduled for April 7 at about 13:30 UTC.

PlanGeneralValue 3.5Apr 7, 2026An old version of a Long March rocket, the stock LM-8 (apparently being phased out for -8A), is now on its launch pad at Wenchang for launch today, April 7 ~13:30 UTC for an LEO constellation that has certainly took unexpected turns lately, launching just once in the past year.

The launch vehicle was Long March 8 Yao-7.

GeneralValue 3.5Apr 7, 2026All service platforms at the Commercial Launch Complex 1 have been retracted, showing the long fairing used by this LM-8:

The Long March 8 has a payload capacity of 1,500 kilograms to a trans-lunar trajectory.

CapabilityValue 4.0Apr 7, 2026Qianfan's Seventh Satellite Group Deployed Following Second Hiatus Period [Long March 8 Y7]

The Long March 8 mission served as a return-to-flight for its 3-meter-diameter liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen second stage.

CapabilityPlanValue 3.4Apr 7, 2026Qianfan's Seventh Satellite Group Deployed Following Second Hiatus Period [Long March 8 Y7]

The Long March 8 has a payload capacity of 5,000 kilograms to a 700-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit.

CapabilityValue 4.6Apr 7, 2026Qianfan's Seventh Satellite Group Deployed Following Second Hiatus Period [Long March 8 Y7]

The Long March 8 has a payload capacity of 2,800 kilograms to geostationary transfer orbit.

CapabilityValue 5.0Apr 7, 2026Qianfan's Seventh Satellite Group Deployed Following Second Hiatus Period [Long March 8 Y7]

The Long March 8 series, including the Long March 8 and Long March 8A, is set to fly fifteen times in total in 2026.

PlanValue 4.0Apr 7, 2026Qianfan's Seventh Satellite Group Deployed Following Second Hiatus Period [Long March 8 Y7]

The Apr. 7, 2026 Long March 8 launch was the first launch for the Qianfan constellation this year.

PlanGrowthValue 3.5Apr 7, 2026A Long March 8 lifted off at 1332 UTC today from Hainan commercial spaceport, sending 18 Qianfan/Thousand Sails satellites into orbit. This was the first launch for the constellation this year.

The stock Long March 8 rocket is on the launch pad at Wenchang for a launch on April 7 at about 13:30 UTC.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Apr 7, 2026And now SpaceLens is live for the launch that should happen within the next hour:

The Long March 8 launch sent 18 Qianfan, also known as Thousand Sails, satellites into orbit.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.0Apr 7, 2026A Long March 8 lifted off at 1332 UTC today from Hainan commercial spaceport, sending 18 Qianfan/Thousand Sails satellites into orbit. This was the first launch for the constellation this year.

The Long March 8A rocket will be launched in Wenchang, Hainan on April 7.

PlanValue 4.0Apr 5, 2026CZ10B is NET April 28th, although it may well slip since it hasn't been brought to the pad. There's a Xichang launch on 24th that's speculated to be the CZ-3B Return to Flight Beside current NOTAM, 4/30 CZ-8A & 4/25 Haiyang sea launch (NOT Nebula) 2xLJ-1 announced

The Long March 8 carrier rocket was transported to the launch area on the morning of April 1.

PlanValue 3.0Apr 5, 2026CZ10B is NET April 28th, although it may well slip since it hasn't been brought to the pad. There's a Xichang launch on 24th that's speculated to be the CZ-3B Return to Flight Beside current NOTAM, 4/30 CZ-8A & 4/25 Haiyang sea launch (NOT Nebula) 2xLJ-1 announced

The Shanghai Academy’s small-duty lunar lander variant is stated to weigh around 2,000 kilograms and could be delivered to trans-lunar injection by a Long March 8A.

CapabilityPlanValue 4.0Mar 17, 2026Shanghai Academy Exploring Methane-Powered Economical Lunar Landers