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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

GuoWang spacecraft launched on the Long March 6A and Long March 5B use a large satellite platform with a mass of at most 1,000 kilograms.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Apr 8, 2026Five More GuoWang Satellites Delivered by Routine Taiyuan Mission [Long March 6A Y17]
Page4of16

The Long March 6A has a payload capacity of 8,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit.

CapabilityValue 4.5Apr 8, 2026Five More GuoWang Satellites Delivered by Routine Taiyuan Mission [Long March 6A Y17]

The Long March 6A launch of SatNet LEO Group 21 was scheduled for 7:37 PM UTC.

PlanValue 2.8Apr 8, 2026Red dot spotted:

The launch was the 22nd mission for the Long March 6A.

PlanValue 2.0Apr 8, 2026Five More GuoWang Satellites Delivered by Routine Taiyuan Mission [Long March 6A Y17]

All Long March 6A launches have taken place from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi province.

GeneralValue 3.0Apr 8, 2026Five More GuoWang Satellites Delivered by Routine Taiyuan Mission [Long March 6A Y17]

The Long March 6A is up to 52 meters tall and weighs 530,000 kilograms when fully fueled.

CapabilityValue 4.2Apr 8, 2026Five More GuoWang Satellites Delivered by Routine Taiyuan Mission [Long March 6A Y17]

The Long March 6A was developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology.

CapabilityValue 3.0Apr 8, 2026Five More GuoWang Satellites Delivered by Routine Taiyuan Mission [Long March 6A Y17]

SatNet LEO Group 21 launched on a Long March 6A rocket from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in China.

PlanValue 4.0Apr 8, 2026Red dot spotted:

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

CapabilityValue 4.9Apr 8, 2026Five More GuoWang Satellites Delivered by Routine Taiyuan Mission [Long March 6A Y17]

Yaogan-50-02 departed the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center atop a Long March 6A rocket.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Mar 16, 2026Sending payloads to an inclination at 142° of a retrograde orbit

A Long March 6A launched from Taiyuan at 1322 UTC on March 15, 2026 carrying the Yaogan-50 (02) satellite.

GeneralPlanValue 4.5Mar 16, 2026A Long March 6A lifted off at 1322 UTC Sunday (March 15) from Taiyuan carrying the Yaogan-50 (02) satellite. This joins the first Yaogan-50 in a highly retrograde 142 degree inclination orbit.

The Long March 6A launch placed Yaogan-50-02 into a retrograde low Earth orbit with a single satellite.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.0Mar 15, 2026Second Retrograde Yaogan Remote Sensing Satellite Placed into Orbit [Long March 6A Y28]

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

CapabilityValue 5.0Mar 15, 2026Second Retrograde Yaogan Remote Sensing Satellite Placed into Orbit [Long March 6A Y28]

The Long March 6A has flown 21 missions since its debut four years ago.

GrowthGeneralValue 4.0Mar 15, 2026Thanks to it taking up a big niche as an early Chinese LEO comsat and other satellites constellations deployer, the Long March 6A now has a not-too-shabby flight rate - this is its 21st since debuting 4 years ago, 12 of which were since January 2025!

The Long March 6A is believed to be up to 52 meters tall.

CapabilityValue 3.0Mar 15, 2026Second Retrograde Yaogan Remote Sensing Satellite Placed into Orbit [Long March 6A Y28]

The Long March 6A first and second stages have a diameter of 3.35 meters.

CapabilityValue 4.0Mar 15, 2026Second Retrograde Yaogan Remote Sensing Satellite Placed into Orbit [Long March 6A Y28]

Every Long March 6A launch to date has taken place from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi province.

GeneralValue 2.5Mar 15, 2026Second Retrograde Yaogan Remote Sensing Satellite Placed into Orbit [Long March 6A Y28]

A Long March 6A launched from Launch Complex 9A at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center on March 15 at 21:22 China Standard Time and 13:22 Universal Coordinated Time.

PlanGeneralValue 3.5Mar 15, 2026Second Retrograde Yaogan Remote Sensing Satellite Placed into Orbit [Long March 6A Y28]

Long March 6A Y28 launched Yaogan-50-02 from Taiyuan on March 15, 2026.

GeneralValue 4.5Mar 15, 2026🚀 Liftoff at 13:22UTC on March 15, Long March 6A Y28 launched Yaogan-50-02 from Taiyuan

The Long March 6A first stage and boosters generate a total thrust of 736 tons.

CapabilityValue 4.5Mar 15, 2026Second Retrograde Yaogan Remote Sensing Satellite Placed into Orbit [Long March 6A Y28]