The March 12 Long March 8A launch is expected to deploy additional satellites to a Chinese low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation.
OK make it 4… Firstly in less than 4 hours (March 12 ~19:45 UTC, middle of night in China) some Chinese LEO constellation is getting more pieces together w/ a Long March 8A launching out towards sea from Wenchang, probably another SatNet satellites batch but who knows? Mar 12, 2026 A Long March 8A rocket is scheduled to launch from Wenchang around March 12, 2026 at approximately 19:45 UTC.
OK make it 4… Firstly in less than 4 hours (March 12 ~19:45 UTC, middle of night in China) some Chinese LEO constellation is getting more pieces together w/ a Long March 8A launching out towards sea from Wenchang, probably another SatNet satellites batch but who knows? Mar 12, 2026 The March 12 Long March 8A launch may carry a batch of SatNet satellites.
OK make it 4… Firstly in less than 4 hours (March 12 ~19:45 UTC, middle of night in China) some Chinese LEO constellation is getting more pieces together w/ a Long March 8A launching out towards sea from Wenchang, probably another SatNet satellites batch but who knows? Mar 12, 2026 The vehicle depicted in the footage is a Long March-8A rocket.
This is a very rare case, but somehow official Chinese media tweeted out on this very LM-8A (sans payload) rolling out to the pad on March 7, confirming at least what the launcher is: Mar 12, 2026 The Long March-8A shown rolling out to the pad was without a payload.
This is a very rare case, but somehow official Chinese media tweeted out on this very LM-8A (sans payload) rolling out to the pad on March 7, confirming at least what the launcher is: Mar 12, 2026 CGTN released a video showing a Long March-8A rocket being transferred to a launch area on March 7, 2026.
This is a very rare case, but somehow official Chinese media tweeted out on this very LM-8A (sans payload) rolling out to the pad on March 7, confirming at least what the launcher is: Mar 12, 2026 The payload for the Xichang launch on March 12, 2026 was not identified.
The same can’t be said of what seems to be a low-inclination LEO launch @ Xichang also today in just over 6 hours (March 12 ~22:30 UTC). It *seems* to be of a Long March 2D but who knows, it can be the very similar 2C or sth else… Did I not know the payload? But of course! Mar 12, 2026 The launch vehicle for the Xichang mission on March 12, 2026 is potentially a Long March 2D or the similar Long March 2C.
The same can’t be said of what seems to be a low-inclination LEO launch @ Xichang also today in just over 6 hours (March 12 ~22:30 UTC). It *seems* to be of a Long March 2D but who knows, it can be the very similar 2C or sth else… Did I not know the payload? But of course! Mar 12, 2026 A low-inclination low Earth orbit launch from Xichang is scheduled for March 12, 2026 at approximately 22:30 UTC.
The same can’t be said of what seems to be a low-inclination LEO launch @ Xichang also today in just over 6 hours (March 12 ~22:30 UTC). It *seems* to be of a Long March 2D but who knows, it can be the very similar 2C or sth else… Did I not know the payload? But of course! Mar 12, 2026 A southwest-bound launch from Taiyuan SLC is scheduled for March 15 at approximately 13:20 UTC.
If you think satellites in highly retrograde orbit are weird, hold on to that feeling because here’s another right after Firefly Space did one! Another SW bound launch from Taiyuan SLC popped up on March 15 ~13:20 UTC, w/ drop zone fitting one used by LM-6A/YG-50-01 in January. Mar 12, 2026 The planned launch from Taiyuan SLC uses a drop zone that matches the drop zone used by LM-6A/YG-50-01 in January.
If you think satellites in highly retrograde orbit are weird, hold on to that feeling because here’s another right after Firefly Space did one! Another SW bound launch from Taiyuan SLC popped up on March 15 ~13:20 UTC, w/ drop zone fitting one used by LM-6A/YG-50-01 in January. Mar 12, 2026 LM-6A/YG-50-01 used a drop zone during a launch in January.
If you think satellites in highly retrograde orbit are weird, hold on to that feeling because here’s another right after Firefly Space did one! Another SW bound launch from Taiyuan SLC popped up on March 15 ~13:20 UTC, w/ drop zone fitting one used by LM-6A/YG-50-01 in January. Mar 12, 2026 Firefly Space launched a satellite into a highly retrograde orbit.
If you think satellites in highly retrograde orbit are weird, hold on to that feeling because here’s another right after Firefly Space did one! Another SW bound launch from Taiyuan SLC popped up on March 15 ~13:20 UTC, w/ drop zone fitting one used by LM-6A/YG-50-01 in January. Mar 12, 2026 The launch includes a Yaogan 50-02 satellite.
That launch, with such a “remote sensing satellite” going to a downright weird 950 km, 142° retrograde LEO is still unexplainable, and now we seems to be going to get a Yaogan 50-02 too or something like that. What the heck? Mar 12, 2026 A remote sensing satellite is scheduled for insertion into a 950-kilometer, 142° retrograde low Earth orbit.
That launch, with such a “remote sensing satellite” going to a downright weird 950 km, 142° retrograde LEO is still unexplainable, and now we seems to be going to get a Yaogan 50-02 too or something like that. What the heck? Mar 12, 2026 A NOTAM schedules a rectangular closed-air-space zone on a sun-synchronous-orbit (SSO) bound track southwest of Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Himalayas for March 16 at approximately 04:10 UTC.
Well for the 4th one I’m scratching my heads on one rectangular closed-air-space zone on the SSO bound track SW of Jiuquan SLC (in Himalayas) to occur March 16 ~04:10 UTC. This is reported to be a CASIC/ExPace Kuaizhou-1A launch but I’m not gonna trust an irregular NOTAM alone! Mar 12, 2026 The March 12, 2026 Long March 8A launch from Wenchang is intended to deploy additional satellites for a Chinese low Earth orbit constellation.
Some miles down the road from where Artemis astronauts will head for the Moon, we are hearing about 1st astronauts heading close to there in 50+ years. Meanwhile some miles down the road from where Chinese astronauts will do the same, this rocket is launching within 30 minutes: Mar 12, 2026 NASA’s Artemis program will return astronauts to the Moon, marking the first crewed lunar missions in over 50 years.
Some miles down the road from where Artemis astronauts will head for the Moon, we are hearing about 1st astronauts heading close to there in 50+ years. Meanwhile some miles down the road from where Chinese astronauts will do the same, this rocket is launching within 30 minutes: Mar 12, 2026 A Long March 8A rocket is scheduled to launch from Wenchang on March 12, 2026 at approximately 19:45 UTC toward the sea.
Some miles down the road from where Artemis astronauts will head for the Moon, we are hearing about 1st astronauts heading close to there in 50+ years. Meanwhile some miles down the road from where Chinese astronauts will do the same, this rocket is launching within 30 minutes: Mar 12, 2026 The on-screen launch vehicle is identified as the Long March 8A (Chang Zheng-8A) launch rocket.
And this smallest Atlas V/Vulcan variant class rocket is certainly chilly already: Mar 12, 2026 The Chinese live-broadcast caption on the image states that the Long March 8A launch vehicle is ready for launch.
And this smallest Atlas V/Vulcan variant class rocket is certainly chilly already: Mar 12, 2026 The Long March 8A launch vehicle is mounted on a launch mount with a mobile service tower and illuminated pad lighting.
And this smallest Atlas V/Vulcan variant class rocket is certainly chilly already: Mar 12, 2026 A YouTube video with ID aClKI-UY provides live coverage of a Long March 8A launch carrying an unknown payload.
You will also be able to see this launch happening here, courtesy of @TheSpaceDogeGuy: Mar 12, 2026 The live coverage branding includes the text 'UNKNOWN PAYLOAD' and 'CASC / LONG MARCH 8A'.
You will also be able to see this launch happening here, courtesy of @TheSpaceDogeGuy: Mar 12, 2026 The live coverage image contains a visible watermark reading 'TS DG'.
You will also be able to see this launch happening here, courtesy of @TheSpaceDogeGuy: Mar 12, 2026 The Long March 8A (Chang Zheng-8A) launch vehicle was on a launch pad preparing for launch.
Probably only a few minutes before the 1st Year Of The Horse launch of this dozen years cycle: Mar 12, 2026 The Long March 8A rocket bore a Chinese national flag on its payload fairing.
Probably only a few minutes before the 1st Year Of The Horse launch of this dozen years cycle: Mar 12, 2026 T-0 is apparently at 19:48 UTC.
T-0 is apparently at 19:48 UTC: Mar 12, 2026 A Long March 8A launch vehicle lifted off on time.
Liftoff was on time: Mar 12, 2026 Long March 8A launched successfully at 7:49 PM UTC on March 12, 2026.
Clear skies all the way to boosters separation tonight! Mar 12, 2026 The Long March 8A launch on March 12, 2026 departed from Wenchang Satellite Launch Center, China.
Clear skies all the way to boosters separation tonight! Mar 12, 2026 Clear skies were expected through booster separation for the March 12, 2026 launch.
Clear skies all the way to boosters separation tonight! Mar 12, 2026 An LM-8A launch was captured in a side-view video on March 12, 2026.
Side view of the LM-8A launch: Mar 12, 2026 The side-view imagery shows an LM-8A launch vehicle positioned on a launch pad at night.
Side view of the LM-8A launch: Mar 12, 2026 A second Chinese launch was scheduled on March 12, 2026 to occur in approximately 30 minutes.
Still waiting for official announcement of the LM-8A launch (apparently SatNet LEO Group 20, TBC), but the 2nd Chinese launch of the night/day is coming up in ~30 minutes: Mar 12, 2026 A low-inclination LEO launch from Xichang was scheduled on March 12, 2026 at about 22:30 UTC.
Still waiting for official announcement of the LM-8A launch (apparently SatNet LEO Group 20, TBC), but the 2nd Chinese launch of the night/day is coming up in ~30 minutes: Mar 12, 2026 An LM-8A launch was pending official confirmation and was expected to carry SatNet LEO Group 20.
Still waiting for official announcement of the LM-8A launch (apparently SatNet LEO Group 20, TBC), but the 2nd Chinese launch of the night/day is coming up in ~30 minutes: Mar 12, 2026 The Xichang launch vehicle was likely a Long March 2D but could instead be a Long March 2C.
Still waiting for official announcement of the LM-8A launch (apparently SatNet LEO Group 20, TBC), but the 2nd Chinese launch of the night/day is coming up in ~30 minutes: Mar 12, 2026 The launch was presented with live coverage by ThatSpaceDogeGuy.
And @TheSpaceDogeGuy will try to spot another Chinese launch again, though it should just be a red dot in the pre-dawn skies this time: Mar 12, 2026 ThatSpaceDogeGuy planned to try to spot the Chinese launch visually from the ground.
And @TheSpaceDogeGuy will try to spot another Chinese launch again, though it should just be a red dot in the pre-dawn skies this time: Mar 12, 2026 Observers expected the launch to appear as a red dot in the pre-dawn sky.
And @TheSpaceDogeGuy will try to spot another Chinese launch again, though it should just be a red dot in the pre-dawn skies this time: Mar 12, 2026 A Long March 2D launch vehicle operated by CASC carried an unknown payload.
And @TheSpaceDogeGuy will try to spot another Chinese launch again, though it should just be a red dot in the pre-dawn skies this time: Mar 12, 2026 The LM-8A rocket launched SatNet LEO Group 20 from Wenchang on March 12, 2026.
In Wenchang, the LM-8A launch with SatNet LEO Group 20 (should be +9 satellites) has been officially confirmed as a success - here's the loud rumble of the YF-100 engines at liftoff: Mar 12, 2026 The LM-8A uses YF-100 engines at liftoff.
In Wenchang, the LM-8A launch with SatNet LEO Group 20 (should be +9 satellites) has been officially confirmed as a success - here's the loud rumble of the YF-100 engines at liftoff: Mar 12, 2026 The LM-8A mission carrying SatNet LEO Group 20 was confirmed successful.
In Wenchang, the LM-8A launch with SatNet LEO Group 20 (should be +9 satellites) has been officially confirmed as a success - here's the loud rumble of the YF-100 engines at liftoff: Mar 12, 2026 A bright red spot was observed over the valleys of Xichang at approximately 22:35 UTC on March 12, 2026.
Meanwhile over the valleys of Xichang, bright red spot and really clear rumbling has been spotted and heard at ~22:35 UTC: Mar 12, 2026 A clear rumbling was heard over the valleys of Xichang at approximately 22:35 UTC on March 12, 2026.
Meanwhile over the valleys of Xichang, bright red spot and really clear rumbling has been spotted and heard at ~22:35 UTC: Mar 12, 2026 The attached image displays a mission overlay labeled "MISSION: Unknown Payload" for a Long March 2D vehicle with a mission timer showing T+ 00:00:31.
Meanwhile over the valleys of Xichang, bright red spot and really clear rumbling has been spotted and heard at ~22:35 UTC: Mar 12, 2026 The rocket in the images is marked "CZ18A" on its first stage.
Photos of LM-8A launch from @Space_Alioth, plus launch mission logo: Mar 12, 2026 Photos of the LM-8A launch and the launch mission logo were shared on March 12, 2026.
Photos of LM-8A launch from @Space_Alioth, plus launch mission logo: Mar 12, 2026