View source for Long March (rocket family)

{{Short description|Class of Chinese rockets}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} 

The '''Long March rockets''' are a family of [[expendable launch system]] [[rocket]]s operated by the [[China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=长征_中国航天科技集团有限公司 |url=http://www.spacechina.com/n25/n142/n353157/n353161/index.html |access-date=2022-05-28 |website=[[China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation]] spacechina.com}}</ref><ref name="English1">{{cite web |title=Launch Vehicles |url=http://english.spacechina.com/n16421/n17215/n17269/c2427295/content.html |website=China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation |date=May 28, 2022}}</ref> The rockets are named after the [[Chinese Red Army]]'s 1934–35 [[Long March]] military retreat during the [[Chinese Civil War]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=我国运载火箭为什么以"长征"命名-新华网 |url=http://www.xinhuanet.com//politics/2016-10/12/c_1119701405.htm |access-date=2022-05-28 |website=[[Xinhua News Agency]]}}</ref>

The Long March series has performed more than 500 launches,<!--English version webpage gives number as 290 --> including missions to [[low Earth orbit]], [[Sun-synchronous orbit]], geostationary transfer orbit, and Earth-Moon transfer orbit. The new-generation carrier rockets, Long March 5, Long March 6, Long March 7, Long March 11, and Long March 8, have made their maiden flights. Among them, the Long March 5 has a low-Earth orbit carrying capacity of 25,000 kilograms, and a geosynchronous transfer orbit carrying capacity of 14,000 kilograms.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="English1"/>

== History ==
{{Main list|List of Long March launches}}
China used the [[Long March 1]] rocket to launch its first [[satellite]], [[Dong Fang Hong I|Dong Fang Hong 1]] (lit. "The East is Red 1"), into [[low Earth orbit]] on 24 April 1970, becoming the fifth nation to achieve independent launch capability. Early launches had an inconsistent record, focusing on the launching of Chinese satellites. The [[Long March 1]] was quickly replaced by the [[Long March 2]] family of launchers.
<gallery>
File:Changzheng-1 Rocket Model in Victoria Park, Hong Kong.jpg|Long March 1
File:Changzheng-1 Rocket Model in Victoria Park, Hong Kong (2).jpg|Long March 1 engine
</gallery>

=== Origins ===
The [[Long March 1]] rocket is derived from earlier Chinese 2-stage [[Intermediate-range ballistic missile]] (IRBM) [[DF-4]], or '''Dong Feng 4 missile''', and the [[Long March 2]], [[Long March 3]], [[Long March 4]] rocket families are derivatives of the Chinese 2-stage [[Intercontinental ballistic missile]] (ICBM) [[DF-5]], or '''Dong Feng 5 missile'''. 

However, like its counterparts in both the United States and in Russia, the differing needs of space rockets and strategic missiles have caused the development of space rockets and missiles to diverge. The main goal of a [[launch vehicle]] is to maximize payload, while for strategic missiles increased throw weight is much less important than the ability to launch quickly and to survive a [[pre-emptive nuclear strike|first strike]]. This divergence has become clear in the next generation of Long March rockets, which use [[Cryogenic fuel|cryogenic propellants]] in sharp contrast to the next generation of strategic missiles, which are mobile and [[solid fuel]]led.

The next generation of Long March rocket, [[Long March 5]] rocket family, is a brand new design, while [[Long March 6]] and [[Long March 7]] can be seen as derivations because they use the [[liquid rocket booster]] design of [[Long March 5]] to build small-to-mid capacity launch vehicles.

=== Entry into commercial launch market ===
[[File:Chang_zheng_3a_launch.png|thumb|200px|upright=1.2|right|[[Long March 3A]] launch]]
After the [[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster|U.S. Space Shuttle ''Challenger'' was destroyed]] in 1986, a growing commercial backlog gave China the chance to enter the international launch market. In September 1988, [[President of the United States|U.S. President]] [[Ronald Reagan]] agreed to allow U.S. satellites to be launched on Chinese rockets.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Stevenson|first1=Richard W.|title=Shaky Start for Rocket Business|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/16/business/shaky-start-for-rocket-business.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 16, 1988|access-date=January 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201055613/http://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/16/business/shaky-start-for-rocket-business.html|archive-date=December 1, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Reagan's satellite export policy would continue to 1998, through Bush and Clinton administrations, with 20 or more approvals.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Clinton Defends China Satellite Waiver – May 22, 1998|url=https://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/05/22/china.money/|access-date=2021-12-13|website=www.cnn.com}}</ref> [[AsiaSat|AsiaSat 1]], which had originally been launched by the Space Shuttle and retrieved by another Space Shuttle after a failure, was launched by a [[Long March 3]] in 1990 as the first foreign payload on a Chinese rocket.

However, major setbacks occurred in 1992–1996. The [[Long March 2E]] was designed with a defective payload fairing, which collapsed when faced with the rocket's excessive vibration. After just seven launches, the Long March 2E destroyed the [[Optus (satellite)#Optus B2|Optus B2]] and [[Apstar 2]] satellites and damaged [[AsiaSat 2]].<ref name="zinger2014">{{cite report|last1=Zinger|first1=Kurtis J.|title=An Overreaction that Destroyed an Industry: The Past, Present, and Future of U.S. Satellite Export Controls|year=2014|url=http://lawreview.colorado.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/13.-86.1-Zinger_Final.pdf|access-date=November 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201042907/http://lawreview.colorado.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/13.-86.1-Zinger_Final.pdf|archive-date=December 1, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="globalsecurity">{{cite web|title=CZ-2E Space Launch Vehicle|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/space/world/china/cz-2e.htm|website=globalsecurity.org|access-date=November 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201080935/https://www.globalsecurity.org/space/world/china/cz-2e.htm|archive-date=December 1, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Long March 3B]] also experienced a catastrophic failure in 1996, veering off course shortly after liftoff and crashing into a nearby village. At least 6 people were killed on the ground, and the [[Intelsat 708]] satellite was also destroyed.<ref name="ChenLan1">{{cite web|last1=Lan|first1=Chen|title=Mist around the CZ-3B disaster, part 1|url=http://www.thespacereview.com/article/2323/1|publisher=The Space Review|access-date=18 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201035826/http://www.thespacereview.com/article/2323/1|archive-date=December 1, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> A [[Long March 3]] also experienced a partial failure in August 1996 during the launch of [[Chinasat|Chinasat-7]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=NASA – NSSDCA – Spacecraft – Details|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1996-048A|access-date=2021-12-15|website=nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov}}</ref> Six Long March rockets ([[Long March 2C|Chang Zheng 2C/SD]]) launched 12 [[Iridium satellite constellation|Iridium satellites]], about a sixth of Iridium satellites in the original fleet.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Graham|first=William|date=2018-03-30|title=Iridium NEXT-5 satellites ride to orbit on SpaceX Falcon 9|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/03/iridium-next-5-satellites-spacex-falcon-9/|access-date=2021-12-15|website=NASASpaceFlight.com|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== United States embargo on Chinese launches ===
{{see also|International Traffic in Arms Regulations#Satellite components}}

The involvement of United States companies in the [[Apstar 2]] and [[Intelsat 708]] investigations caused great controversy in the United States. In the [[Cox Report]], the [[United States Congress]] accused [[SSL (company)|Space Systems/Loral]] and [[Hughes Aircraft Company]] of transferring information that would improve the design of Chinese rockets and ballistic missiles.<ref name="zenio2006">{{cite news |last1=Zelnio|first1=Ryan|title=A short history of export control policy|url=http://www.thespacereview.com/article/528/1|publisher=The Space Review|date=January 9, 2006|access-date=November 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211160307/http://www.thespacereview.com/article/528/1|archive-date=December 11, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Although the Long March was allowed to launch its commercial backlog, the [[United States Department of State]] has not approved any satellite export licenses to China since 1998. [[Chinasat|ChinaSat 8]], which had been scheduled for launch in April 1999 on a [[Long March 3B]] rocket,<ref>{{cite report|author1=Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration|title=Commercial Space Transportation Quarterly Launch Report |year=1999|url=https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/media/quarter9902.pdf|access-date=November 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504212503/https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/media/quarter9902.pdf|archive-date=May 4, 2017|url-status=live}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> was placed in storage, sold to the Singapore company [[ProtoStar]], and finally launched on a European rocket [[Ariane 5]] in 2008.<ref name="zenio2006"/>

From 2005 to 2012, Long March rockets launched ITAR-free satellites made by the European company [[Thales Alenia Space]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Harvey|first1=Brian|title=China in Space: The Great Leap Forward |url=https://archive.org/details/chinaspacegreatl00harv|url-access=limited|year=2013|publisher=Springer|location=New York|isbn=9781461450436|pages=[https://archive.org/details/chinaspacegreatl00harv/page/n172 160]–162}}</ref> However, Thales Alenia was forced to discontinue its ITAR-free satellite line in 2013 after the United States State Department fined a United States company for selling ITAR components.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ferster|first1=Warren|title=U.S. Satellite Component Maker Fined US$8 Million for ITAR Violations|url=http://spacenews.com/37071us-satellite-component-maker-fined-8-million-for-itar-violations/|publisher=SpaceNews|date=5 September 2013}}</ref> [[Thales Alenia Space]] had long complained that "every satellite nut and bolt" was being ITAR-restricted, and the [[European Space Agency]] (ESA) accused the United States of using ITAR to block exports to China instead of protecting technology.<ref>{{cite news|last1=de Selding|first1=Peter B.|title=Thales Alenia Space: U.S. Suppliers at Fault in "ITAR-free" Misnomer|url=http://spacenews.com/36706thales-alenia-space-us-suppliers-at-fault-in-itar-free-misnomer/|publisher=SpaceNews|date=9 August 2013}}</ref> In 2016, an official at the [[Bureau of Industry and Security|United States Bureau of Industry and Security]] confirmed that "no U.S.-origin content, regardless of significance, regardless of whether it is incorporated into a foreign-made item, can go to China". Since 2016, the European aerospace industry is working on developing replacements for United States satellite components.<ref name="selding2016">{{cite news|last1=de Selding|first1=Peter B.|title=U.S. ITAR satellite export regime's effects still strong in Europe|url=http://spacenews.com/u-s-itar-satellite-export-regimes-effects-still-strong-in-europe/|publisher=SpaceNews|date=April 14, 2016}}</ref>

=== Return to success ===
[[File:Launch of Shenzhou 13.jpg|thumb|160px|alt=Long March 2F is the only human-rated launch vehicle of the Long March family.|[[Long March 2F]] is the only human-rated launch vehicle of the Long March family.]]
After the failures of 1992–1996, the troublesome Long March 2E was withdrawn from the market. Design changes were made to improve the reliability of Long March rockets. From October 1996 to April 2009, the Long March rocket family delivered 75 consecutive successful launches, including several major milestones in space flight:
* On 15 October 2003, the [[Long March 2F]] rocket successfully launched the ''[[Shenzhou 5]]'' spacecraft, carrying China's first astronaut into space. China became the third nation with independent [[human spaceflight]] capability, after the [[Soviet Union]]/Russia and the United States. 
* On 1 June 2007, Long March rockets completed their 100th launch overall. 
* On 24 October 2007, the [[Long March 3A]] successfully launched (10:05 [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]]) the "[[Chang'e 1]]" [[Moon|lunar]] orbiting [[spacecraft]] from the [[Xichang Satellite Launch Center]].

The Long March rockets have subsequently maintained an excellent reliability record. Since 2010, Long March launches have made up 15–25% of all space launches globally. Growing domestic demand has maintained a healthy manifest. International deals have been secured through a package deal that [[Product bundling|bundles]] the launch with a Chinese satellite, circumventing the United States embargo.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Henry|first1=Caleb|title=Back-to-back commercial satellite wins leave China Great Wall hungry for more|url=http://spacenews.com/back-to-back-commercial-satellite-wins-leave-china-great-wall-hungry-for-more/|publisher=SpaceNews|date=August 22, 2017}}</ref>

== Payloads ==
The Long March is China's primary expendable launch system family. The [[Shenzhou (spacecraft)|Shenzhou]] spacecraft and [[Chinese Lunar Exploration Program|Chang'e]] lunar orbiters are also launched on the Long March rocket. The maximum payload for [[Low Earth orbit|LEO]] is 25,000 kilograms (CZ-5B), the maximum payload for [[Geostationary transfer orbit|GTO]] is 14,000&nbsp;kg (CZ-5). The next generation rocket [[Long March 5]] variants will offer more payload in the future.

== Propellants ==
[[File:Rocket engines at NMC.jpg|thumb|Three engines using three different combination of propellants. From left to right: [[YF-20]] using N<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> and UDMH, [[YF-100]] using LOX and kerosene, [[YF-77]] using LOX and LH<sub>2</sub>]]
[[Long March 1]]'s 1st and 2nd stage used [[nitric acid]] and [[unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine]] (UDMH) propellants, and its upper stage used a spin-stabilized solid rocket engine.

[[Long March 2]], [[Long March 3]], [[Long March 4]], the main stages and associated [[liquid rocket booster]]s use [[dinitrogen tetroxide]] (N<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>) as the [[oxidizing agent]] and [[Unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine|UDMH]] as the fuel. The upper stages (third stage) of Long March 3 rockets use [[YF-73]] and [[YF-75]] engines, using [[liquid hydrogen]] (LH<sub>2</sub>) as the fuel and [[liquid oxygen]] (LOX) as the oxidizer.

The new generation of Long March rocket family, [[Long March 5]] and its derivations [[Long March 6]], [[Long March 7]], [[Long March 8]], and [[Long March 10]] use non-toxic [[LOX]]/[[kerosene]] and [[LOX]]/LH<sub>2</sub> liquid propellants (except in some upper stages where UDMH/N<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> continues to be used).

[[Long March 9]] is being developed as a LOX/[[CH<sub>4</sub>]], or ''methalox'', rocket.

[[Long March 11]] is a [[Solid-propellant rocket|solid-fuel rocket]].

[[Long March 12]] uses non-toxic [[LOX]]/[[RP-1|kerosene]] liquid propellants for the first 2 stages.

== Variants ==
Timeline bars start at first launch (rather than start of development).
{{Timeline of Long March rocket families}}{{Update inline|date=June 2024|reason=Chart is out of date, no Long March 9 or 10.}}

The Long March rockets are organized into several series:
* [[Long March 1]]
* [[Long March 2]]
* [[Long March 3]]
* [[Long March 4]]
* [[Long March 5]]
* [[Long March 6]]
* [[Long March 7]]
* [[Long March 8]]
* [[Long March 9]]
* [[Long March 10]]
* [[Long March 11]]
* [[Long March 12]]

The Long March 5, 6 and 7 are a newer generation of rockets sharing the new 1200&nbsp;kN class [[YF-100]] engines, which burns [[RP-1]] / [[LOX]], unlike earlier 2, 3 and 4 series which uses more expensive and dangerous [[N2O4|N<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>]] / [[UDMH]] propellants.<ref>SINA News ''[[Sina.com|Sina]]'', 19 November 2010, [http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/2010-11-19/1734619923.html]</ref> The 5 series is a [[heavy-lift launch vehicle]], with a capacity of 25,000&nbsp;kg to LEO while the 6 series is a [[small-lift launch vehicle]] with a capacity of 1,500&nbsp;kg to LEO, and the 7 series is a [[medium-lift launch vehicle]], with a capacity of 14,000&nbsp;kg to LEO.

The Long March 10A is a partially-reusable crewed-rated rocket designed for LEO missions currently under development; the Long March 9 is initially designed to be partially reusable before becoming a fully reusable launcher.
[[File:Comparatif des Longue Marche chinoise.png|thumb|center|900px|Comparison of Long March rockets]]

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background:#ccf;"|align="center"
! Model 
! Status 
! data-sort-type="number"| Stages 
! data-sort-type="number"| Length<br/>(m) 
! data-sort-type="number"| Max. diameter<br/>(m) 
! data-sort-type="number"| Liftoff mass<br/>(t) 
! data-sort-type="number"| Liftoff thrust<br/>(kN) 
! data-sort-type="number"| Payload<br/>([[Low Earth orbit|LEO]], kg) 
! data-sort-type="number"| Payload (SSO, kg)
! data-sort-type="number"| Payload<br/>([[Geostationary transfer orbit|GTO]], kg)
|-style="background:#ccc"
|-
| [[Long March 1]] || {{site inactive|Retired}} || 3 || 29.86 || 2.25 || 81.6 || 1020 || 300 || – || –
|-style="background:#ccc"
|-
| [[Long March 1D]] || {{site inactive|Retired}} || 3 || 28.22 || 2.25 || 81.1 || 1101.2 || 930 || – || –
|-style="background:#ccc"
|-
| [[Long March 2A]] || {{site inactive|Retired}} || 2 || 31.17 || 3.35 || 190 || 2,786 || 1,800 || – || –
|-
| [[Long March 2C]] || {{Active}} || 2 || 43.72 || 3.35 || 245 || 2,961.6 || 4,000 || 2,100 || 1,250
|-
| [[Long March 2D]] || {{Active}} || 2 || 41.056 (without shield) || 3.35 || 249.6 || 2,961.6 || 3,500 || 1,300 || –
|-style="background:#ccc"
|-
| [[Long March 2E]] || {{site inactive|Retired}}<ref name="EA">{{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/cz.htm|title=CZ|publisher=Astronautix.com|access-date=2010-08-10|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611001414/http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/cz.htm|archive-date=June 11, 2009}}</ref> || 2 (+ 4 boosters) || 49.686 || 3.35 || 464 || 5,923.2 || 9,500 || 4,350 || 3,500
|-style="background:#aaa"
|-style="background:#ccc"
|-
| [[Long March 2F/G|Long March 2F]] || {{Site inactive|Retired}} || 2 (+ 4 boosters) || 58.34 || 3.35 || 493 || 6512 || 8,800 || – || –
|-style="background:#ccc"
|-style="background:#ccc"
|-
| [[Long March 2F/G]] || {{Active}} || 2 (+ 4 boosters) || 58.34 || 3.35 || 493 || 6512 || 8,800 || – || –
|-style="background:#ccc"
|-style="background:#ccc"
|-
| [[Long March 2F/G|Long March 2F/T]] || {{Active}} || 2 (+ 4 boosters) || 58.34 || 3.35 || 493 || 6512 || 8,800 || – || –
|-style="background:#ccc"
|-style="background:#ccc"
|-
| [[Long March 3]] || {{site inactive|Retired}}<ref name="EA"/> || 3 || 44.9 || 3.35 || 205 || 2,961.6 || 5,000 || – || 1,600
|-
| [[Long March 3A]] || {{site inactive|Retired}} || 3 || 52.52 || 3.35 || 242 || 2,961.6 || 6,000 || 5,100 || 2,600
|-style="background:#ccc"
|-
| [[Long March 3B]] || {{site inactive|Retired}}{{efn|CZ-3B last flown in September 2012 on flight 22 of the combined CZ-3B and CZ-3B/E launch [[Long March 3B|list]]; subsequent 43 flights in said list (to February 2020) have all been of the CZ-3B/E variant.}} || 3 (+ 4 boosters) || 54.838 || 7.85 (including boosters) || 425.8 || 5,923.2 || 11,200 || 6,850 || 5,100 
|-
| [[Long March 3B/E]]|| {{Active}} || 3 (+ 4 boosters) || 56.326 || 7.85 (including boosters) || 458.97 || 5923.2 || 11,500 || 7,100 || 5,500 
|-
| [[Long March 3C]] || {{site inactive|Retired}} || 3 (+ 4 boosters) || 55.638 || 7.85 (including boosters) || 345 || 4,442.4 || 9,100 || 6,450 || 3,900
|-style="background:#ccc"
|-
| [[Long March 3C/E]] || {{Active}} || 3 (+ 4 boosters) || 55.638 || 7.85 (including boosters) || 345 || 4,442.4 || 9,100 || 6,450 || 3,900
|-style="background:#ccc"
|-
| [[Long March 4A]] || {{site inactive|Retired}} || 3 || 41.9 || 3.35 || 241.1 || 2,961.6 || 3,800 || 1,600 || –
|-
| [[Long March 4B]] || {{Active}} || 3 || 48 || 3.35 || 249.2 || 2,961.6 || 4,200 || 2,295 || –
|-
| [[Long March 4C]] || {{Active}} || 3 || 48 || 3.35 || 249.2 || 2,961.6 || 4,200 || 2,947 || 1,500
|-
| [[Long March 5]] <!-- see talk page --><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sinodefence.com/strategic/launchvehicle/cz5.asp|title=cz5|work=SinoDefence|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915021717/http://www.sinodefence.com/strategic/launchvehicle/cz5.asp|archive-date=September 15, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/cznglv.htm|title=CZ-NGLV|work=astronautix.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907043022/http://astronautix.com/lvs/cznglv.htm|archive-date=September 7, 2008}}</ref> || {{Active}} || 2 (+ 4 boosters, optional [[Yuanzheng|upper stage]]) || 57 || 11.7 (including boosters)  || 854.5 || 10620 || – || – || 14,400
|-
| [[Long March 5B]] || {{Active}} || 1 (+ 4 boosters) || 53.7 || 11.7 (including boosters) || 837.5 || 10620 || 25,000 || 15,000 || –
|-
| [[Long March 6]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-09/06/content_12003432.htm|title=China starts developing Long March 6 carrier rockets for space mission|publisher=Xinhuanet News |date=September 6, 2009|access-date=2010-08-10|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102185630/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-09/06/content_12003432.htm|archive-date=November 2, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sinodefence.com/space/launcher/changzheng6.asp|title=ChangZheng 6 (Long March 6) Launch Vehicle|publisher=SinoDefence.com|date=February 20, 2009|access-date=2010-08-10 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302005031/http://www.sinodefence.com/space/launcher/changzheng6.asp|archive-date=March 2, 2009}}</ref> || {{Active}} || 3 || 29 || 3.35 || 103 || 1200  || >1,500 || 500~1,080 || – 
|-
| [[Long March 6A]] || {{Active}} || 2 (+ 4 solid fuel boosters) || 50~55 || 7.35 (including boosters) || 530 || 7230 || >8,000 || >5,000 || –
|-
| [[Long March 6C]] || {{Active}} || 2 || 43 || 3.35 || 217 || 2,376 || 4,500 || 2,000 || 1,400
|-
| [[Long March 7]] || {{Active}} || 2 (+ 4 boosters) || 53 || 7.85 (including boosters) || 597 || 7,200 || 14,000 || 5,500 || – 
|-
| [[Long March 7A]] || {{Active}} || 3 (+ 4 boosters) || 60.13–60.7 || 7.85 (including boosters) || 573 || 7,200||– ||– || 7,800
|-style="background:#cfc"
|-
| [[Long March 8]] || {{Active}} || 2 (2 boosters, optional) || 50.3 || 3–7.85 (including boosters) || 356.6 || 4,800 || 8,100<ref name="nsf_L8"/> || 5,000<ref name="nsf_L8"/> || 2,800<ref name="nsf_L8">{{cite news|title=Long March 8 – a future reusable rocket – conducts debut launch|author=Rui C. Barbosa |date=December 22, 2020|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/12/long-march-8-debuts-nine-satellites/|website=nasaspaceflight.com
|access-date=May 7, 2023}}</ref>
|-style="background:#cfc"
|-
| [[Long March 8A]] || {{Active}} || 2 (+ 2 boosters) || 50.5 || 3.35–7.85 (including boosters) || 371 || 4,800 || 9,800 || 7,000 || 3,500
|-style="background:#cfc"
|-
| [[Long March 9]] || {{planned}} || 3|| 114 || 10.6 || 4,369 || 60,000 || 150,000 || – || –
|-
| [[Long March 10]] || {{planned}} || 3 (+ 2 common core boosters)|| 88.5–91.6 || 15 (including boosters) || 2,187 || 26,250 || 70,000 || – || 32,000 
|-
| [[Long March 10|Long March 10A]] || {{planned}} || 3 || 88.5–91.6 || 5 || ? || 8750 || >18,000 expened <br> >14,000 reusable|| – || -
|-
| [[Long March 11]] || {{Active}} || 4 || 20.8 || ~2 || 58 || 1188 || 700 || 350 || –
|-
| [[Long March 12]] || {{Active}} || 2 || 62 || 3.8 || 433 || 5,000 || 12,000 || 6,000 |6,000
| –
|-
| [[Long March 12|Long March 12A]] || {{Planned}} || 2 || 59 || 3.8 || 433 || 5,000 || 10,000 || 6,000 || –
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! 2A !! 2C !! 2D !! 2E !! 2F !! 3 !! 3A !! 3B !! 3C !! 4A !! 4B !! 4C
|-
| [[File:CZ-2A.svg]] || [[File:CZ-2C.svg]] || [[Image:CZ-2D.svg]] || [[File:CZ-2E.svg]] || [[Image:CZ-2F.svg]] || [[Image:CZ-3.svg]] || [[Image:CZ-3A.svg]] || [[File:CZ-3B.svg]] || [[Image:CZ-3C.svg]] || [[Image:CZ-4A.svg]] || [[Image:CZ-4B.svg]] || [[Image:CZ-4C.svg]]
|}

=== Long March 8 ===

{{Main|Long March 8}}
The Long March 8 is a new series of launch vehicles, which is geared towards [[Sun-synchronous orbit]] (SSO) launches.<ref>{{cite web|title=中国长征系列运载火箭大家族将添六大新成员-中新网|url=http://www.chinanews.com/mil/2015/03-07/7109962.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312224123/http://www.chinanews.com/mil/2015/03-07/7109962.shtml|archive-date=March 12, 2015|access-date=March 8, 2015}}</ref> In early 2017, it was expected to be based on the Long March 7, and have two solid fuel boosters, and first launch by the end of 2018.<ref name="LM8-2017">{{cite web|author=Jones|date=February 2017|title=hina is aiming to launch a new Long March 8 rocket|url=https://gbtimes.com/china-launch-new-long-march-8-rocket-end-2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320043801/https://gbtimes.com/china-launch-new-long-march-8-rocket-end-2018|archive-date=March 20, 2018|access-date=2018-03-19|website=gbtimes.com}}</ref> By 2019, it was intended to be partially reusable. The first stage will have legs and grid fins (like [[Falcon 9]]) and it may land with side boosters still attached.<ref name="LM8-2020">[http://www.parabolicarc.com/2020/01/19/meet-the-long-march-8/ ''Meet the Long March 8'' - January 2020] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200120050248/http://www.parabolicarc.com/2020/01/19/meet-the-long-march-8/|date=20 January 2020}} Includes CGI image of first stage landing</ref> The first Long March 8 was rolled out to for a test launch on or around 20 December 2020 and launched on 22 December 2020.<ref>{{cite news|last=Jones|first=Andrew|date=December 18, 2020|title=China rolls out Long March 8 rocket for weekend test flight|publisher=SpaceNews|url=https://spacenews.com/china-rolls-out-long-march-8-rocket-for-weekend-test-flight/|access-date=December 21, 2020}}</ref> The second flight with no side boosters occurred on 27 February 2022, sending a national record of 22 satellites into [[Sun-synchronous orbit|SSO]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |url=https://spacenews.com/china-launches-national-record-22-satellites-on-long-march-8-commercial-rideshare/ |title=China launches national record 22 satellites on Long March 8 commercial rideshare |work=[[SpaceNews]] |date=27 February 2022 |access-date=1 March 2022}}</ref>{{update after|2024}}

=== Future development ===

==== Long March 9 ====

{{main|Long March 9}}
The Long March 9 (LM-9, CZ-9, or Changzheng 9, Chinese: 长征九号) is a Chinese super-heavy carrier rocket concept proposed in 2018<ref>{{cite web|last=Jones|first=Andrew|url=https://spacenews.com/china-reveals-details-for-super-heavy-lift-long-march-9-and-reusable-long-march-8-rockets/|title=China reveals details for super-heavy-lift Long March 9 and reusable Long March 8 rockets|publisher=SpaceNews|date=5 July 2018 |access-date=1 March 2021}}</ref> that is currently in study. It is planned for a maximum payload capacity of 140,000&nbsp;kg<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.americaspace.com/?p=22881|title=First Look: China's Big New Rockets|publisher=AmericaSpace|date=July 18, 2012|access-date=August 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170120045327/http://www.americaspace.com/?p=22881|archive-date=January 20, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> to [[low Earth orbit]] (LEO), 50,000&nbsp;kg to [[trans-lunar injection]] or 44,000&nbsp;kg to [[Mars]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scitech.people.com.cn/GB/14054670.html|title=梁小虹委员：我国重型运载火箭正着手立项 与美俄同步|website=scitech.people.com.cn|access-date=June 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728134540/http://scitech.people.com.cn/GB/14054670.html|archive-date=July 28, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="spacenewsJuly18">{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com//world/china/china-aims-to-outstrip-nasa-with-super-powerful-rocket/articleshow/64829693.cms?|title=China reveals details for super-heavy-lift Long March 9 and reusable Long March 8 rockets|date=5 July 2018|access-date=7 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801122726/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com//world/china/china-aims-to-outstrip-nasa-with-super-powerful-rocket/articleshow/64829693.cms|archive-date=August 1, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Its first flight is expected by 2028 or 2029 in preparation for a lunar landing sometime in the 2030s;<ref name="ars-20210224">{{cite web|last=Berger|first=Eric |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/02/china-officially-plans-to-move-ahead-with-super-heavy-long-march-9-rocket/ |title=China officially plans to move ahead with super-heavy Long March 9 rocket |publisher=Ars Technica|date=24 February 2021|access-date=1 March 2021}}</ref> a sample return mission from Mars has been proposed as first major mission.<ref name="spacenewsJuly18"/> It has been stated that around 70% of the hardware and components needed for a test flight are currently undergoing testing, with the first engine test to occur by the end of 2018. The 2011 proposed design would be a three-staged rocket, with the initial core having a diameter of 10 meters and use a cluster of four engines. Multiple variants of the rocket have been proposed, CZ-9 being the largest with four liquid-fuel boosters with the aforementioned LEO payload capacity of 140,000&nbsp;kg, CZ-9A having just two boosters and a LEO payload capacity of 100,000&nbsp;kg, and finally CZ-9B having just the core stage and a LEO payload capacity of 50,000&nbsp;kg.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.popsci.com/china-aims-for-humanitys-return-to-moon-in-2030s|title=China Aims for Humanity's Return to the Moon in the 2030s|website=popsci.com|date=2016-05-05|access-date=2018-07-14|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508225643/https://www.popsci.com/china-aims-for-humanitys-return-to-moon-in-2030s|archive-date=2016-05-08}}</ref> 

===== 2021 respecification =====
Approved in 2021, the Long March 9 is classified as a [[super heavy-lift launch vehicle]].<ref name="ars-20210224"/> A very different design of LM-9 was announced in June 2021, with more engines and no external boosters.<ref>[https://www.thespacereview.com/article/4347/1 ''Red Heaven: China sets its sights on the stars (part 1)'']</ref> Payload capacities are 160 tonnes to LEO and 53 tonnes to TLI.<ref>{{cite web|date=2022-04-25|title=China National Space Day|url=https://kevinjamesng.com/2022/04/25/cnsa-chinanationalspaceadministration-%E5%9B%BD%E5%AE%B6%E8%88%AA%E5%A4%A9%E5%B1%80-beltandroadinitiative-apirl2022%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD%E5%A4%A9%E6%96%87%E6%97%A5-chinaspaceday-%E9%95%BF/|access-date=2022-04-27|website=kevinjamesng.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=2022-04-27|title=10 more engines!The Long March 9 rocket has a new configuration, which is thicker and taller and can be reused|url=https://inf.news/en/military/5249f3bc1a4f016c8781df63714ee5e3.html|access-date=2022-04-27|website=inf.news}}</ref>

==== Long March 10 ====
{{main|Long March 10}}
The [[Long March 10]], previously known as the "921 rocket",<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://m.ithome.com/html/675669.htm |title=我国新一代载人运载火箭命名为"长征十号"，将用于登月任务|author=汪淼 |date=2023-02-24 |publisher=IT之家 |language=zh-hans |accessdate=2023-02-25 }}</ref> is under development for crewed lunar missions. The nickname "921" refers to the founding date of China's [[Shenzhou program|human spaceflight program]]. Like the Long March 5, it uses 5-meter (16.4&nbsp;ft) diameter rocket bodies and [[YF-100]]K engines, although with 7 engines on each of 3 cores.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lund|first1=J.|url=https://j-lund.medium.com/chinas-mysterious-manned-moon-rocket-5d37068c2480|title=China's Mysterious Manned Moon Rocket|date=October 7, 2020}}</ref><ref name="sn-20211217">{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |date=17 December 2021 |title=China's new rocket for crewed moon missions to launch around 2026 |url=https://spacenews.com/chinas-new-rocket-for-crewed-moon-missions-to-launch-around-2026/ |access-date=19 December 2021 |work=[[SpaceNews]]}}</ref> The launch weight is 2187 tonnes, delivering 25 tonnes into trans-lunar injection.<ref name="space_jones_921">{{cite web|last1=Jones|first1=Andrew|url=https://www.space.com/china-rocket-for-crewed-moon-missions|title=China is building a new rocket to fly its astronauts on the Moon|date=October 1, 2020|publisher=SPACE.com}}</ref> The proposed crewed lunar mission uses two rockets; the [[Next-generation crewed spacecraft|crewed spacecraft]] and lunar landing stack launch separately and rendezvous in lunar orbit.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jones|first1=Andrew|url=https://spacenews.com/china-outlines-architecture-for-future-crewed-moon-landings/|title=China outlines architecture for future crewed moon landings |date=October 30, 2020|newspaper=SpaceNews}}</ref> Development was announced at the 2020 China Space Conference.<ref name="space_jones_921"/> As of 2022, the first flight of this triple-cored rocket is targeted for 2027.<ref>{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |url=https://www.space.com/china-crew-launching-moon-rocket-2027-debut |title=China's huge new crew-launching moon rocket could fly for 1st time in 2027 |work=[[Space.com]] |date=11 November 2022 |access-date=18 November 2022}}</ref>

== Launch sites ==
There are four launch centers in China. They are:
* [[Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center]]
* [[Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center]]
* [[Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site]]
* [[Xichang Satellite Launch Center]]

Most of the commercial satellite launches of Long March vehicles have been from [[Xichang Satellite Launch Center]], located in [[Xichang]], [[Sichuan]] province. [[Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site]] in [[Hainan]] province is under expansion and will be the main launch center for future commercial satellite launches. Long March launches also take place from the more military oriented [[Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center]] in [[Gansu]] province from which the crewed [[Shenzhou spacecraft]] also launches. [[Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center]] is located in [[Shanxi]] province and focuses on the launches of [[Sun-synchronous orbit]] (SSO) satellites.

On 5 June 2019, China launched a [[Long March 11]] rocket from a mobile launch platform in the [[Yellow Sea]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.space.com/china-gains-flexible-capabilities-sea-launch.html |title=China Gains New Flexible Launch Capabilities with First Sea Launch|website=[[Space.com]] |date=6 June 2019 |access-date=June 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607003216/https://www.space.com/china-gains-flexible-capabilities-sea-launch.html|archive-date=June 7, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Commercial launch services ==
China markets launch services under the [[China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation]] (China Great Wall Industry Corporation).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cgwic.com/about/index.html|title=About CGWIC |publisher=CGWIC|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080708185413/http://www.cgwic.com/about/index.html|archive-date=July 8, 2008}}</ref> Its efforts to launch communications satellites were dealt a blow in the mid-1990s after the United States stopped issuing export licenses to companies to allow them to launch on Chinese launch vehicles out of fear that this would help [[People's Liberation Army|China's military]]. In the face of this, [[Thales Alenia Space]] built the [[Chinasat|Chinasat-6B]] satellite with no components from the United States whatsoever. This allowed it to be launched on a Chinese launch vehicle without violating United States [[International Traffic in Arms Regulations]] (ITAR) restrictions.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/2007-07-06-china-launches-satellite_N.htm|title=China launches satellite despite restrictions|newspaper=USA Today|date=July 6, 2007|access-date=May 11, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523100640/http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/2007-07-06-china-launches-satellite_N.htm|archive-date=May 23, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> The launch, on a Long March 3B rocket, was successfully conducted on 5 July 2007.

A Chinese Long March 2D launched [[VRSS-1|VRSS-1 (Venezuelan Remote Sensing Satellite-1)]] of [[Venezuela]], "Francisco de Miranda" on 29 September 2012.

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Spaceflight|China}}
* [[China National Space Administration]]
* {{annotated link|Shenzhou spacecraft}}
* [[Space program of China]]
* {{annotated link|Tsien Hsue-shen}}
* [[Comparison of orbital launchers families]]
* [[Comparison of orbital launch systems]]
* {{annotated link|Kaituozhe-1|Kaituozhe launcher}}
* {{annotated link|Kuaizhou|Kuaizhou launcher}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Long March (rocket)}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20020629000100/http://www.astronautix.com/lvfam/lonmarch.htm Extensive information on the Chinese space program]
* [http://www.cgwic.com/index1.html China Great Wall Industry Corporation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061005062047/http://www.cgwic.com/index1.html |date=5 October 2006 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061022104052/http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/2006/launch06.html NASA links – substitute year for other years]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091027100653/http://geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Launchpad/1921/engine.htm Long March Engines List]
* [http://www.braeunig.us/space/specs/lgmarch.htm Rocket and Space Technology]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091027100730/http://geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Launchpad/1921/launch.htm Chinese Launch Vehicle Overview]

{{Long March rockets}}
{{Chinese launch systems}}
{{CNSA space program}}
{{Space exploration lists and timelines}}
{{Rocket families}}
{{Expendable launch systems}}

[[Category:Long March (rocket family)| ]]
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[[Category:Space launch vehicles of China]]
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[[Category:Spacecraft that broke apart in space]]