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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 rocket that launched Yunhai-3 (02) is 50 m long and weighs 530 metric tons.

CapabilityValue 4.2Mar 27, 2024Long March 6A launches second Yunhai-3 satellite

The Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST), a manufacturer subordinate to CASC, plans to launch the first Long March 6C later 2024 using the Long March 6A core stage without solid boosters.

Plan
Page14of16
Relationships
Capability
Value 4.7
Mar 27, 2024
Long March 6A launches second Yunhai-3 satellite

CASC’s 2022 Long March missions included six missions to the Tiangong space station, a 22-satellite Long March 8 mission, and the first launch of the Long March 6A.

PlanGeneralValue 3.0Dec 29, 2022China sends second Shiyan-10 test satellite sent into orbit with its final launch of 2022

A Long March 6 kerosene-liquid oxygen rocket lifted off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center at 7:50 p.m. Eastern on 2022-09-26, carrying the Shiyan-16A, Shiyan-16B, and Shiyan-17 satellites into orbit.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Sep 27, 2022China conducts trio of orbital launches across two days

A Long March-6 carrier rocket launched the 16 satellites at 12:50 p.m. Beijing Time.

PlanGeneralValue 2.0Aug 10, 2022China’s Long March rocket launches 16 satellites

CASC’s Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology is developing a reusable variant based on the Long March 6.

PlanCapabilityValue 3.5May 7, 2022Deep Blue Aerospace completes kilometer-level rocket launch and landing test

China launched its first Long March 6A from a new launch complex at Taiyuan on March 29, 2022.

PlanValue 4.0Mar 29, 2022China launches first Long March rocket with solid boosters

The 3.35-meter-diameter Long March 6A uses two YF-100 kerolox engines on its first stage and can lift four tons to a 700-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit.

CapabilityValue 4.6Mar 29, 2022China launches first Long March rocket with solid boosters

The Long March 6A lifted off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center at 5:50 a.m. Eastern on March 29, 2022.

PlanGeneralValue 3.5Mar 29, 2022China launches first Long March rocket with solid boosters

The 29-meter-long Long March 6 has a 2.25-meter diameter, uses a single YF-100, and can lift up to 1,000 kg to sun-synchronous orbit.

CapabilityValue 5.0Mar 29, 2022China launches first Long March rocket with solid boosters

The China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), a subsidiary of CASC, launched the first "Long March Express" rideshare using a Long March 6 in 2021-04-01.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Feb 27, 2022China launches national record 22 satellites on Long March 8 commercial rideshare

The Long March 6A rocket was delivered to the Taiyuan spaceport in late January 2022 and will be China’s first use of a liquid propellant rocket paired with solid rocket boosters.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.2Feb 9, 2022China plans more than 50 space launches in 2022

A new launch complex has been constructed at Taiyuan to support the Long March 6A launcher.

GrowthCapabilityPlanValue 4.0Jan 17, 2022China’s first launch of 2022 puts classified Shiyan-13 satellite into orbit

Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center will host the first launch attempt of the Long March 6A, which will feature a liquid core with solid boosters.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.0Jan 17, 2022China’s first launch of 2022 puts classified Shiyan-13 satellite into orbit

CASC will launch the first Long March 6A, featuring a liquid core with solid boosters, from a new complex at the Taiyuan spaceport.

PlanCapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Jan 3, 2022China aims to complete space station in another huge year in space

CASC’s Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology is developing a reusable variant based on the Long March 6.

PlanCapabilityValue 3.5Oct 13, 2021Deep Blue Aerospace conducts 100-meter VTVL rocket test

China launched a Long March 6 rocket from Taiyuan on 2021-08-04 carrying two Beita/Beta satellites developed by the Shanghai Engineering Center for Microsatellites.

PlanCapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Aug 6, 2021China launches Zhongxing-2E communications satellite

The Long March 6 can deliver up to 1,000 kg to a 700-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit.

CapabilityValue 4.0Apr 27, 2021China launches space mining test spacecraft on commercial rideshare mission

The three-stage Long March 6 uses kerosene and liquid oxygen propellant for its first two stages and was designed by SAST.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Apr 27, 2021China launches space mining test spacecraft on commercial rideshare mission

The launch service for the Long March 6 mission was contracted by China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), a subsidiary of CASC.

RelationshipsValue 4.0Apr 27, 2021China launches space mining test spacecraft on commercial rideshare mission