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.
China's Aerospace and Technology Corporation revealed its capabilities include carrying payloads of seven tons to 700-kilometer Sun-synchronous orbit, and using a 5.2 meter faring that would allow it to hoist large-volume cargoes.
The Long March-8A will fly just four-and-a-bit years after the December 2020 debut of the first in the series, highlighting the rapid development of China’s space launch vehicles.
China plans many such missions, including a refresh of its satellite-based radio navigation system, known as the Beidou network, by 2035.
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