Chinese Long March-8A Y8 rocket transported to launch pad in south China

BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The Long March-8A Y8 carrier rocket, developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, has been successfully transported to its launch pad in south China's Hainan Province.

The rocket was vertically transported to the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site on Saturday. It is now positioned at Launch Pad No. 1 and is scheduled for launch in the coming days, China Media Group reported on Sunday.

The Long March-8A is a significantly improved model within the Long March-8 series. Featuring a payload capacity of 7 tonnes to a 700-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit, it is specifically designed for high-density and rapid satellite deployment.

Since its maiden flight in February 2025, this rocket variant has entered a high-density launch rhythm and has successfully completed seven missions. It serves as a core launch vehicle for the construction of China's satellite internet constellation, according to the report, which added that approximately 15 launches are planned for the Long March-8 series in 2026.