1. Basic information
The Long March 8 launch vehicle is a new medium-sized launch vehicle developed by the First Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology. The Long March 8 is a derivative model when the Long March 7 was developed. All modules are off-the-shelf modules, fully inheriting existing technologies, and the research and development cost is relatively low. However, the Long March 8 also inherits the shortcomings of existing modules. The Long March 8 currently has two configurations: CZ-822 (HO) and CZ-820 (HO). CZ-820 (HO) does not have a booster, and CZ-822 (HO) has two boosters. CZ-820(HO) has a height of 48 m, a mass of approximately 198 t, and an SSO (700 km) carrying capacity of 3 t. CZ-822(HO) has a height of 50.34m, a mass of approximately 356 t, and an SSO (700 km) carrying capacity of 5 t.
2. Rocket composition
(1) Fairing
The Long March 8 is adapted to two types of fairings, both with an outer diameter of 4.2m. The first type fairing has an inner diameter of 3.85m and a height of 5.4m. The first type fairing has an inner diameter of 3.8m and a height of 12m.
(2) Core level one
The first stage of the Long March 8 core has a diameter of 3.35 meters and is equipped with two YF-100 engines with a thrust of 120 tons. YF-100 uses liquid oxygen and kerosene as propellants, adopts an oxygen-rich pre-ignition staged combustion cycle, the mixing ratio is 2.6, the sea level thrust is 124.8t, the sea level specific impulse is 300s, the vacuum thrust is 136.7t, and the vacuum specific impulse is 335s. The core level 1 of Long March 8 is basically the same as that of Long March 7.
(3) Core level two
The Long March 8 core has a secondary diameter of 3 meters and is equipped with two YF-75 hydrogen-oxygen engines with a thrust of 8.5 tons. YF-75 is my country’s second-generation upper-stage liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen rocket engine. It adopts a gas generator circulation and pump-pressure supply system. A gas generator generates gas to drive the fuel turbine pump and oxidizer turbine pump in series. Due to the simple circulation method, YF-75 has a relatively low specific impulse and a relatively small thrust. The core level 2 of the Long March 8 is basically the same as the core level 3 of the Long March 3A series.
(4) Boosting
CZ-822(HO) is bundled with two 2.25-meter-diameter liquid boosters, each booster is equipped with a YF-100 engine with a thrust of 120 tons. The Long March 8 booster is basically the same as the Long March 7 booster.
3. Launch record
On November 12, 2020, the first Long March 8 rocket conducted launch training.
On December 16, 2020, the first flight of the Long March 8 rocket completed its transfer. Later, due to the impact of a tropical cyclone, the first flight was postponed to December 22.
At 12:37 on December 22, 2020, Long March 8 completed its first flight at Station 101 of the Wenchang Space Launch Site (Long March 8 and Long March 7 can share the same launch station).
On February 27, 2022, the Long March 8 unpropelled configuration (CZ-820(HO)) completed its first flight.
4. Other relevant information
On October 31, 2024, the Long March 8 launch vehicle core first-stage booster assembly, core second-stage rocket body and star cover assembly were successfully transferred to the No. 1 launch station of the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site to complete the hoisting and docking of each module.
On November 8, 2024, the Long March 8 carrier rocket successfully completed the launch site training mission at the No. 1 launch station of the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site.
At 13:44 on December 15, 2024, the Long March 8 carrier rocket was successfully transferred from the technical area to the No. 1 launch station at the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site, but the rocket launch was not completed.
It is reported that the Long March 8 carrier rocket will be launched from Hainan Shangfa Station No. 1 in the near future. This will also be the first flight of Hainan Shangfa Station No. 1. After the launch mission is completed, the two liquid launch stations currently built by Hainan Commercial Development will all have launch support capabilities, which will further promote the rapid development of my country’s commercial aerospace industry.
