Long March – Spaceflight Now

China launches another Gaofen Earth observation satellite

September 8, 2020

A new optical Earth observation satellite launched by China Monday joins the country’s remote sensing network for land surveys, urban planning, and agriculture monitoring.

China tests experimental reusable spacecraft shrouded in mystery

September 8, 2020

A mysterious space vehicle described by Chinese state media as an experimental reusable spacecraft completed a two-day flight in low Earth orbit Sunday.

China launches another Gaofen Earth observation satellite

August 24, 2020

Another Chinese Gaofen Earth-imaging satellite launched Sunday aboard a Long March 2D rocket, riding to space with a pair of experimental rideshare payloads for the Chinese military.

Earth observation and research satellites ride Chinese rocket into orbit

August 6, 2020

China sent an Earth observation satellite and a university-built research payload into orbit Thursday aboard a Long March 2D rocket.

China launches high-resolution mapping satellite

July 25, 2020

China launched a Long March 4B rocket Saturday with a high-resolution mapping satellite for the Chinese Ministry of Natural Resources and two smaller spacecraft designed for astronomical observations and data relay services.

China launches robotic mission to orbit, land, and drive on Mars

July 23, 2020

A heavy-lift Long March 5 rocket propelled China’s first Mars landing mission toward the Red Planet on Thursday after launching from a seaside spaceport on Hainan Island, the second of three international Mars probes expected to depart planet Earth this month.

China moves massive rocket into place for ambitious Mars shot

July 21, 2020

China’s heaviest rocket has rolled to its launch pad for liftoff Thursday with the country’s first Mars landing mission, an ambitious attempt to place an orbiter around the Red Planet and a robotic rover on the Martian surface in early 2021.

High-throughput communications satellite launched from China

July 9, 2020

A high-power broadband communications satellite designed to provide Internet access to airliner passengers, cruise ships, fishing vessels, and other mobile users successfully launched Thursday aboard a Chinese Long March 3B rocket.

Chinese launches loft satellites to study space environment and observe Earth

July 6, 2020

China launched a Long March 2D rocket Saturday with a satellite Chinese officials claimed will study the space environment and conduct technology demonstrations, less than two days after a Long March 4B rocket took off from a different launch site with an Earth-imaging payload.

China launches final Beidou navigation satellite

June 23, 2020

China launched the capstone satellite for the Beidou navigation constellation Tuesday, adding the final piece to a global network to rival the U.S. military’s GPS fleet providing positioning, timing, and search and rescue services.