BEIJING: China’s Long March-8 carrier rocket, developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), successfully lifted off from the Launch Pad 1 at the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site, which was also developed by CALT, on Wednesday.
The rocket carried 18 satellites, successfully deploying the fifth batch of Qianfan Constellation satellites into their designated orbit. The mission is a complete success and marks the maiden launch from the Launch Pad 1, Global Times learned from CALT.
The academy, an affiliate of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, which is a state-owned conglomerate and the nation’s leading space contractor, hailed the development in a statement shared to the Global Times on Wednesday.
The successful mission marks not only the fifth successful launch of the Long March 8 rocket series but also a crucial step in advancing market-oriented reforms in China’s space sector and supporting the national satellite network strategy, said the statement.
It also confirmed that both launch pads at the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site are now operational, making it China’s first commercial space launch site with diversified launch capabilities, according to CALT.
As a milestone in China’s commercial space sector, Launch Pad 1 was designed and constructed in just 18 months, setting a new record for launch site development speed. Its internationally leading technological innovations and highly efficient management model have injected strong momentum into China’s space industry.
This launch was the debut of Launch Pad 1 and the first time the Long March-8 rocket executed a mission from its dedicated launch pad.
As a key model among China’s new-generation medium-lift rockets, previous Long March 8 launches had all taken place at the Wenchang Space Launch Site. Through multiple joint drills and system verifications, Launch Pad 1 has successfully passed real-world testing, with its coordination and compatibility laying a solid foundation for high-frequency launches in the future, the CALT said.
“The commissioning of the dedicated launch pad marks a new phase in the market-oriented services of the Long March-8 rocket,” said Xiao Yun, chief commander of the Long March-8 series at CALT. “This year, the Long March 8 will carry out multiple launches for satellite constellations. The high efficiency of the dedicated pad will significantly shorten mission cycles, offering commercial users faster and more reliable services.”
Song Zhengyu, chief designer of the Long March 8 series at CALT, explained, “The Long March 8 ranks among the top medium-lift rockets in China in terms of payload efficiency and capacity, particularly suited for sun-synchronous orbit and large-scale low-Earth orbit constellation deployments. Its modular design enables flexible configurations, making it an optimal solution for building satellite networks at 1,100 km altitude.” –The Daily Mail-Global Times news exchange item
