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Launch Vehicles
Vehicle family profile

Long March 6

长征六号

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
41
Missions in the public mission table with actual launch dates.
Peak listed capacity
8,000 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
202010
202140
202240
202330
202480
2025110
2026710
2027012
2028014
2029016
2030016
2031016
2032016
2033016
2034016
2035016

Performance Specs

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

VariantOrbitCapacityAltitudeInclinationSource
Long March 6A
LEO8,000 kgUnknownUnknownLong March 6A public performance profile
Long March 6A
SSO6,500 kg500 kmUnknownLong March 6A public performance profile

Recent Missions

Latest launched missions using variants in this family.

MissionVariantLaunch
Qianfan Xingzuo 13
Long March 6A
Jul 4, 2026
Qianfan Xingzuo 11
Long March 6A
Jun 4, 2026
Qianfan Xingzuo 08
Long March 6A
May 12, 2026
PRSC-EO3 Mission

Variants

Canonical variants rolled up into this launch vehicle family.

VariantStagesMissionsStatus
Long March 6
Not stated15Active
Long March 6A
Not stated25Active
Long March 6C
Not stated1Active
2036016
2037016
2038016
2039016
2040016
2041016

Forecast Location Split

1 launch location represented.

YearLocationLaunchesConfidenceBasis
2026Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center1022%China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume con...
2027Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center1222%China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume con...
2028Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center1422%China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume con...
2029Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center1622%China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume con...
2030Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center1622%China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume con...
2031Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center1622%China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume con...
2032Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center1622%China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume con...
2033Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center1622%China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume con...
2034Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center1622%China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume con...
2035Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center1622%China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume con...
2036Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center1622%China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume con...
2037Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center1622%China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume con...
2038Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center1622%China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume con...
2039Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center1622%China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume con...
2040Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center1622%China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume con...
2041Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center1622%China launch cadence curve: active Long March/Gravity families scale from current low-confidence static defaults toward an analytically modeled high-volume con...
Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center
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...

Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center
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...

Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center
2028 · 22% confidence
14

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

Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center
2029 · 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...

Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center
2030 · 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...

Long March 6C
LEO4,500 kgUnknownUnknownEd Kyle Space Launch Report CZ-5/6/7/8 summary
Long March 6A
SSO4,500 kg700 kmUnknownCASC / SpaceChina Long March 6A page
Long March 6C
SSO2,400 kg500 kmUnknownCASC / SpaceChina Long March 6C page
Long March 6C
SSO2,000 kg700 kmUnknownCASC / SpaceChina Long March 6C page
Long March 6
LEO1,500 kgUnknownUnknownEd Kyle Space Launch Report CZ-5/6/7/8 summary
Long March 6
SSO1,000 kg700 kmUnknownCASC Long March 6 report
Long March 6
Apr 25, 2026
WHDW 21
Long March 6A
Apr 8, 2026
Yaogan 50-02
Long March 6A
Mar 15, 2026
Yaogan 50-01
Long March 6A
Jan 13, 2026
WHDW 15
Long March 6A
Dec 8, 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
Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center
2031 · 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...

Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center
2032 · 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...

Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center
2033 · 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...

Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center
2034 · 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...

Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center
2035 · 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...

Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center
2036 · 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...

Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center
2037 · 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...

Mentions
302
All verified mentions of this launch vehicle family in source documents.
0.0-5.0
Actions

The Long March 6A was developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology and uses a two-and-a-half-stage design.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Sep 6, 2025Third Yaogan Trio Reaches Space [Long March 6A Y12]

Each of the four solid rocket boosters on the Long March 6A produces 124 tons of thrust from an unspecified solid propellant, resulting in a combined booster thrust of 492 tons.

Page12of16
CapabilityValue 4.0Sep 6, 2025Third Yaogan Trio Reaches Space [Long March 6A Y12]

Launch teams supporting Long March 6A missions have enhanced weather protection measures to address frequent thunderstorms at Taiyuan during this part of the year.

CapabilityValue 3.0Sep 6, 2025Third Yaogan Trio Reaches Space [Long March 6A Y12]

The Long March 6A payload capacity is 4,500 kilograms to a 700-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit.

CapabilityValue 4.5Sep 6, 2025Third Yaogan Trio Reaches Space [Long March 6A Y12]

The fairing on the September 7, 2025 Long March 6A mission was split into three segments with the uppermost half segment deploying during ascent and the remaining segments detached during the payload deployment sequence.

CapabilityPlanValue 3.8Sep 6, 2025Third Yaogan Trio Reaches Space [Long March 6A Y12]

Launch teams supporting Long March 6A missions have improved documentation and processes for personnel handovers.

GeneralValue 1.5Sep 6, 2025Third Yaogan Trio Reaches Space [Long March 6A Y12]

A previous Long March 6A launched from Launch Complex 9A at Taiyuan on August 17, 2025 at 22:15 China Standard Time (14:15 Coordinated Universal Time) headed for a near-polar orbit with another group of internet satellites.

PlanGeneralValue 4.5Sep 6, 2025Third Yaogan Trio Reaches Space [Long March 6A Y12]

The Long March 6A is the first new-generation Chinese launch vehicle to utilize a combination of solid and liquid propellants and was developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Sep 6, 2025Third Yaogan Trio Reaches Space [Long March 6A Y12]

The September 7, 2025 Long March 6A liftoff time corresponded to 16:34 Coordinated Universal Time on September 6, 2025.

PlanValue 2.2Sep 6, 2025Third Yaogan Trio Reaches Space [Long March 6A Y12]

The Long March 6A conducted its seventh flight of 2025 on the Yaogan-40 Group-03 mission and had last flown twenty days earlier.

PlanValue 4.0Sep 6, 2025Third Yaogan Trio Reaches Space [Long March 6A Y12]

All Long March 6A launches to date have launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern Shanxi province.

PlanGeneralValue 2.0Sep 6, 2025Third Yaogan Trio Reaches Space [Long March 6A Y12]

The Long March 6A first stage is powered by two YF-100 engines generating a combined thrust of approximately 244 tons using rocket-grade kerosene and liquid oxygen.

CapabilityValue 4.6Sep 6, 2025Third Yaogan Trio Reaches Space [Long March 6A Y12]

The Long March 6A second stage is powered by a single YF-115 engine producing 18 tons of thrust using rocket-grade kerosene and liquid oxygen.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.3Sep 6, 2025Third Yaogan Trio Reaches Space [Long March 6A Y12]

A Long March 6A lifted off from Launch Complex 9A at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center at 00:34 China Standard Time on September 7, 2025 (16:34 UTC on September 6, 2025) heading for a polar orbit.

PlanValue 4.0Sep 6, 2025Third Yaogan Trio Reaches Space [Long March 6A Y12]

The Long March 6A used a special payload fairing and adapter to deploy the three Yaogan-40 satellites, similar to Arianespace’s Système de Lancement Double Ariane.

CapabilityValue 4.0Sep 6, 2025Third Yaogan Trio Reaches Space [Long March 6A Y12]

A previous Long March 6A launch from Taiyuan lifted off from Launch Complex 9A at 22:15 China Standard Time (14:15 UTC) on August 17, 2025 headed for a near-polar orbit carrying another group of internet satellites.

PlanGeneralValue 3.0Sep 6, 2025Third Yaogan Trio Reaches Space [Long March 6A Y12]

Three satellites atop the Long March 6A on September 7, 2025 were part of Yaogan-40 Group-03 developed by the China Academy of Space Technology.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.0Sep 6, 2025Third Yaogan Trio Reaches Space [Long March 6A Y12]

The September 7, 2025 Long March 6A mission was the vehicle’s seventh flight of 2025 and it had last flown twenty days earlier.

PlanGeneralValue 3.0Sep 6, 2025Third Yaogan Trio Reaches Space [Long March 6A Y12]

The Long March 6A for the Yaogan-40 Group-03 mission used a special payload fairing and adapter similar to Arianespace’s Système de Lancement Double Ariane.

CapabilityValue 4.2Sep 6, 2025Third Yaogan Trio Reaches Space [Long March 6A Y12]

The payload on the Long March 6A launch consisted of three satellites forming Yaogan-40 Group-03 developed by the China Academy of Space Technology.

CapabilityPlanValue 4.0Sep 6, 2025Third Yaogan Trio Reaches Space [Long March 6A Y12]