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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 upper stage experienced a number of debris-creating events in 2024.

GeneralValue 2.0Dec 27, 2024China suffers commercial rocket failure but sets record for annual launches

The Long March 6A lifted off at 11:41 p.m. Eastern on 2024-12-04 (0441 UTC, Dec. 5) from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China.

Plan
Page13of16
General
Value 4.0
Dec 5, 2024
Long March 6A launches third batch of Thousand Sails constellation satellites

The Long March 6A is capable of launching 4,500 kg of payload to a 700-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit.

CapabilityValue 4.5Dec 5, 2024Long March 6A launches third batch of Thousand Sails constellation satellites

The third batch of satellites for the Qianfan/Thousand Sails megaconstellation is expected to launch on a Long March 6A rocket late 2024-12-05 Eastern (Dec. 6 UTC) following an apparent scrubbed launch attempt on Dec. 2.

PlanGeneralValue 4.7Dec 4, 2024China debuts modified solid rocket with remote sensing satellite launch

The third batch of satellites for the Qianfan/Thousand Sails megaconstellation is expected to launch on a Long March 6A rocket late 2024-12-03 Eastern.

PlanValue 4.6Dec 3, 2024China launches clandestine TJS-13 satellite, rocket reaches milestone

A Long March 6A upper stage fragmentation on 2024-08-06 has COSPAR ID 2024-140U and an estimated 700–900 fragments.

GeneralValue 4.2Nov 24, 2024Better data, innovation and regulation needed to tackle growing space debris threat

A Long March 6A upper stage fragmentation on 2024-07-04 has COSPAR ID 2024-126C and an unknown number of fragments.

GeneralPlanValue 2.5Nov 24, 2024Better data, innovation and regulation needed to tackle growing space debris threat

The Long March 6 is a 29-meter-long, three-stage rocket that uses a single YF-100 kerosene-liquid oxygen engine on its first stage.

CapabilityValue 4.5Oct 22, 2024China launches 3 Tianping-3 radar calibration satellites

A Long March 6 rocket lifted off from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern China at 8:10 p.m. Eastern on 2024-10-21 (0010 UTC, Oct. 22).

PlanGeneralValue 3.5Oct 22, 2024China launches 3 Tianping-3 radar calibration satellites

SAST provided the Long March 6 rocket for the Tianping-3 mission.

RelationshipsValue 4.0Oct 22, 2024China launches 3 Tianping-3 radar calibration satellites

The YF-100K is an uprated version of the YF-100 kerosene-liquid oxygen engine family used on China’s Long March 6, 7, and 8 rockets.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Jul 18, 2024China prepares to launch new Long March 12 rocket

The first Long March 6A launched in March 2022.

PlanValue 2.3Jul 12, 2024China’s Long March 6A rocket appears to have an orbital debris problem

The latest Long March 6A launched on 2024-07-04 from a specifically constructed launch pad at Taiyuan spaceport.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Jul 12, 2024China’s Long March 6A rocket appears to have an orbital debris problem

The Long March 6A successfully delivered two Tianhui-5 (02) remote sensing satellites into roughly circular, 600-kilometer-altitude sun-synchronous orbits.

CapabilityPlanValue 4.0Jul 12, 2024China’s Long March 6A rocket appears to have an orbital debris problem

The Long March 6A can carry 4,500 kg to a 700-kilometer Sun-synchronous orbit.

CapabilityValue 4.0May 7, 2024China launches first Long March 6C rocket

The 2024-03-26 Long March 6A launch was China’s 14th orbital mission of 2024.

PlanValue 2.0Mar 27, 2024Long March 6A launches second Yunhai-3 satellite

Yunhai-3 (02) was launched by a Long March 6A rocket from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center on 2024-03-26 at 2251 UTC.

PlanGeneralValue 4.5Mar 27, 2024Long March 6A launches second Yunhai-3 satellite

The November 2022 Yunhai-3 launch involved a breakup of the Long March 6A upper stage that produced 37 pieces of debris tracked by the U.S. Space Force’s 18th Space Defense Squadron.

GeneralCapabilityValue 4.0Mar 27, 2024Long March 6A launches second Yunhai-3 satellite

The first Yunhai-3 satellite, launched in November 2022 on a Long March 6A, is cataloged by the U.S. Space Force’s 18th Space Defense Squadron in a near-polar, near-circular orbit at 849 km altitude.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.5Mar 27, 2024Long March 6A launches second Yunhai-3 satellite

Six Yunhai-2 series satellites were launched by China the week prior to the 2024-03-26 Long March 6A mission.

PlanGeneralValue 3.0Mar 27, 2024Long March 6A launches second Yunhai-3 satellite