China marks milestone 600th Long March rocket launch
by Riko Seibo
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Oct 17, 2025
China’s Long March rocket collection has reached a serious milestone with its 600th flight, following the profitable launch of a Long March-8A automobile that deployed a brand new group of web satellites into orbit on Thursday.
Since its debut greater than 5 many years in the past, the Long March household has carried practically 1,400 spacecraft into orbit, accounting for over 86 % of China’s complete house launches. Operated by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the collection types the spine of the nation’s house transportation system.
“These rockets have provided solid support for the implementation of major aerospace projects, such as China’s manned spaceflights, BeiDou navigation and deep space exploration,” CASC said in a launch marking the event.
Over time, 24 variants of the Long March have been developed, 11 of which belong to a brand new technology of launchers that includes improved engines, supplies and digital management programs. In the previous 100 launches, these new-generation fashions have represented 40 % of complete missions, highlighting their rising position in China’s increasing launch cadence.
CASC experiences that the Long March household has advanced to fulfill the wants of each nationwide and business prospects. Its payloads cowl telecommunications, distant sensing, navigation and scientific functions, reflecting China’s quickly diversifying house economic system.
The Long March-8A, one of many newest fashions, is acknowledged for its cost-efficient modular design and excessive adaptability, making it a most popular platform for satellite tv for pc constellation deployments.
Looking forward, engineers are creating the Long March-10 rocket for crewed lunar missions, focused for completion earlier than 2030. According to Long Lehao, a senior rocket designer and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, this system has already achieved key advances in floor testing.
Plans are additionally underway for a brand new heavy-lift launcher able to boosting China’s capability for deep-space exploration and high-mass payload transport. Together, these next-generation automobiles mark the persevering with evolution of the Long March collection as China’s gateway to orbit and past.
Related Links
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
The Chinese Space Program – News, Policy and Technology
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