China’s Long March 8 Launches On Its Maiden Flight Written 22 December 2020
A Long March-5 rocket lifts off from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in southern China's Hainan Province, Nov. 24, 2020. | Mark Schiefelbein; Associated Press–©
Space News reports that at 11:37 p.m. EST Monday, China carried out the first launch of its Long March 8 rocket. The “50.3-meter-long, 356-ton Long March 8 lifted off at 11:37 p.m. Eastern Dec. 21 from the coastal Wenchang launch site carrying five satellites into Sun-synchronous orbits.” The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), “a CASC subsidiary which designed and produced the launcher, states...the new rocket fills the gap in China’s capability for launches to Sun-synchronous orbit in the 3-4.5 ton range.” Additionally, the Long March 8 “is to be adapted for reusability in the future.”
Full Story (Space News)