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The Long March 8A rocket, developed to become China's primary launch vehicle for medium- and low-Earth orbit missions, is set to make its maiden flight in January 2025, as announced by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT).
On Monday, the rocket was loaded onto a ship to begin its journey to the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan province, South China.
"The Long Mar 
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 10, 2024
The Long March 8A rocket, developed to become China's primary launch vehicle for medium- and low-Earth orbit missions, is set to make its maiden flight in January 2025, as announced by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT).
On Monday, the rocket was loaded onto a ship to begin its journey to the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan province, South China.
"The Long March 8A is an upgraded version of the Long March 8 rocket, specifically developed to meet the launch requirements of large-scale constellation networks in medium- and low-Earth orbits," stated Song Zhengyu, chief designer of the Long March 8 rocket at CALT.
Song highlighted that the rocket offers enhanced performance, lower costs, greater reliability, and rapid launch capabilities.
According to Xiao Yun, chief commander of the Long March 8 at CALT, the development of the Long March 8A spanned 28 months and included 44 major ground tests. These efforts addressed numerous technological challenges. "We are confident and capable of successfully accomplishing this launch mission," Xiao added.
Related Links
China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology
Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com