Launches / Long March 8A

Past launch Launched successfully

SatNet LEO Group 17

Long March 8A, flown by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

Long March 8A lifting off with the SatNet LEO Group 17 mission
Image via The Space Devs.

This was China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's 66th launch of 2025, and its 567th in all.

Counting every operator, it was the 320th orbital launch attempt anywhere in 2025, and the sixth from Commercial LC-1.

Launched
Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, 11:26 p.m. UTC
Window
Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, 11:18 to 11:43 p.m. UTC
Launch site
Wenchang Space Launch Site, China
Rocket
Long March 8A
Operator
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

The mission

A batch of 9 Low Earth Orbit communication satellites for the Chinese state owned SatNet constellation operated by the China Satellite Network Group. The constellation will eventually consists of 13000 satellites.

Type
Communications
Destination
Low Earth orbit

The rocket

The Long March 8A is an orbital launch vehicle developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology based on the Long March 8. It has an increased capability of up to 7 tonnes to a 700 km altitude sun-synchronous orbit. It implements a larger 3.35 meters diameter liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen 2nd stage, coupled with 2 upgraded version of the YF-75D engines used on the Long March 5 (known as the YF-75H) with increased thrust to 10 tonnes each through measures such as increased turbopump speeds. The Long March 8A can also use a larger 5.2 meters diameter payload fairing.

Height
50.5 m
Built by
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
First flew
February 11, 2025
Lifts to low Earth orbit
9,800 kg
View 5 specifications Show less
Lifts to geostationary transfer
3,500 kg
Diameter
3.4 m
Mass at liftoff
371 t
Thrust at liftoff
4,800 kN
Stages
2

10 flights, 10 of them successful.

Wikipedia →

The operator

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) is the main contractor for the Chinese space program. It is state-owned and has a number of subordinate entities which design, develop and manufacture a range of spacecraft, launch vehicles, strategic and tactical missile systems, and ground equipment. It was officially established in July 1999 as part of a Chinese government reform drive, having previously been one part of the former China Aerospace Corporation. Various incarnations of the program date back to 1956.

Sector
Government
Based in
China
Founded
1999
Run by
Lei Fanpei, Chairman & President

612 launches so far, 596 of them successful. The last 3 in a row went to plan.

english.spacechina.com → Wikipedia →

The launch site

It went up from Commercial LC-1 at Wenchang Space Launch Site, China.

See the pad on a map →

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