Long March 5
China's largest operational rocket, central to its deep-space and space-station programmes.
Flight record
About Long March 5
Long March 5 (Chang Zheng 5) is China's most powerful operational launch vehicle, a heavy-lift rocket using a cryogenic hydrogen-oxygen core with four kerosene-oxygen strap-on boosters. It gave China the capability to launch large modules and deep-space probes that earlier Long March rockets could not.
It has launched the core and laboratory modules of the Tiangong space station (in its 5B variant), the Chang'e 5 and 6 lunar sample-return missions, and the Tianwen-1 Mars orbiter and rover — making it the workhorse of China's most ambitious space projects.
Variants
Long March 5
StandardThe two-stage version with a cryogenic upper stage, used for high-energy missions such as lunar and interplanetary probes and geostationary satellites.
Long March 5B
Heavy LEOA shorter, single-stage-to-orbit-core variant without the upper stage, optimised to loft very heavy payloads to low Earth orbit — notably the Tiangong space-station modules.
Flight history
Frequently asked questions
Specifications
- Height
- 57 m
- Diameter
- 5 m
- Launch mass
- 867 kg
- Payload to
- 25,000 kg
- Payload to
- 14,000 kg
- Thrust at liftoff
- 10,600 kN
- Reusable
- No
Key dates
- First flight
- Nov 3, 2016
Official links
Long March 5 launches
Every upcoming and past Long March 5 launch — live countdowns, mission details and launch history.
Upcoming Launches
Unknown Payload
Jun 10, 2026, 6:00 AM
CASC
Long March 5
Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China
Chang'e 7
Aug 31, 2026, 12:00 AM
CASC
Long March 5
Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China
Xuntian Telescope
Dec 31, 2027, 12:00 AM
CASC
Long March 5B
Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China
Chang'e 8
Dec 31, 2029, 12:00 AM
CASC
Long March 5
Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China
Previous Launches
TJSW-23
Dec 20, 2025, 12:30 PM
CASC
Long March 5
Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China
TJSW-20
Oct 23, 2025, 2:30 PM
CASC
Long March 5
Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China
SatNet LEO Group 08
Aug 13, 2025, 6:43 AM
CASC
Long March 5B/YZ-2
Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China
SatNet LEO Group 03
Apr 28, 2025, 8:10 PM
CASC
Long March 5B/YZ-2
Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China
SatNet LEO Group 01
Dec 16, 2024, 10:00 AM
CASC
Long March 5B/YZ-2
Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China
Chang'e 6
May 3, 2024, 9:27 AM
CASC
Long March 5
Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China
TJSW-11
Feb 23, 2024, 11:30 AM
CASC
Long March 5
Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China
Yaogan 41
Dec 15, 2023, 1:41 PM
CASC
Long March 5
Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China
Mengtian
Oct 31, 2022, 7:37 AM
CASC
Long March 5B
Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China
Wentian
Jul 24, 2022, 6:22 AM
CASC
Long March 5B
Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China
Tianhe
Apr 29, 2021, 3:23 AM
CASC
Long March 5B
Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China
Chang'e 5
Nov 23, 2020, 8:30 PM
CASC
Long March 5
Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China
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