Long March 8 rocket lifts 5 satellites in debut flight

Research and development started in 2017 and took about three years. Construction of the first Long March 8 finished in October.

The rocket's designs and technologies are mainly based on those already used by the Long March 3A and Long March 7. The adoption of proven designs guarantees the Long March 8's reliability and operational economy, according to Song Zhengyu, Long March 8's chief designer.

In addition, its high transport efficiency will be attractive to clients, he said.

Project managers have estimated that at least 10 Long March 8s will be used each year given the robust requirements from domestic and international satellite businesses, while their annual manufacturing capacity will soon reach 20.

In the long run, the rocket is expected to become the first reusable model in the Long March series as designers have planned to give it reusability to increase its commercial competitiveness.

Designers intend to develop an integrated first stage for the rocket's future reusable variant. This new first stage will consist of a core booster and two side boosters. Instead of breaking up and falling back to Earth like all existing Chinese rockets' first stages do, the new core and side boosters will stick together and conduct propelled landing as a whole onto a recovery platform at sea.

The most renowned reusable rocket in the world is SpaceX's Falcon Heavy, which made its maiden launch in February 2018. All boosters on the American rocket's first stage can be recovered and reused as they will separate from each other and perform controlled re-entry and landing.

During the past six years, China has made tremendous strides in its rocket industry. In the Long March family alone, six new-generation models were put into service over this period, ranging from the comparatively small, solid-propellant Long March 11 to one of the world's mightiest types – the Long March 5.

Furthermore, several private enterprises have attempted to develop and operate their own carrier rockets and two of them – i-Space and Galactic Energy – have succeeded and used their rockets to fulfill orbital launches.