Launches / Long March 5

Past launch Launched successfully

TJSW-23

Long March 5, flown by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

Long March 5 lifting off with the TJSW-23 mission
Image via The Space Devs.

This was China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's 64th launch of 2025, and its 565th in all.

Counting every operator, it was the 313th orbital launch attempt anywhere in 2025, and the fourth from 101.

Launched
Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, 12:30 p.m. UTC
Window
Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, 12:22 to 1:40 p.m. UTC
Launch site
Wenchang Space Launch Site, China
Rocket
Long March 5
Operator
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

Watch the webcast →

The mission

Chinese classified satellite claimed to be for communication technology test purposes. Actual mission not known.

Type
Government/top secret
Destination
Geostationary transfer orbit

The rocket

Long March 5 is a Chinese heavy lift launch system developed by China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT). CZ-5 is the first Chinese vehicle designed from the ground up to focus on non-hypergolic liquid rocket propellants. Currently, two CZ-5 vehicle configurations are planned, with maximum payload capacities of ~25,000 kilograms (55,000 lb) to LEO and ~14,000 kilograms (31,000 lb) to GTO. The Long March 5 roughly matches the capabilities of American EELV heavy-class vehicles such as the Delta IV Heavy.

Height
57 m
Built by
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
First flew
November 3, 2016
Lifts to low Earth orbit
25,000 kg
View 5 specifications Show less
Lifts to geostationary transfer
14,000 kg
Diameter
5 m
Mass at liftoff
867 t
Thrust at liftoff
10,600 kN
Stages
2

9 flights, 9 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 101 at Wenchang Space Launch Site, China.

See the pad on a map →

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