China’s Long March rocket series achieved its 600th space launch on Thursday with a successful deployment of Long March-8A internet satellites into orbit.
According to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the Long March rockets have delivered nearly 1,400 spacecraft into orbits and conducted over 86 per cent of the country’s space launch missions to date.
“These rockets have provided solid support for the implementation of major aerospace projects, such as China’s manned spaceflights, BeiDou navigation and deep space exploration,” it said in a statement.
“Among the 24 rocket variants developed since the maiden flight of the Long March-1 rocket, 11 are classified as new-generation launch vehicles.
”In the most recent 100 missions, new-generation rockets have accounted for 40 percent, emerging as an important force supporting the country’s high-density launches,” it said.
The company also noted that the Long March rocket series had been actively adapting to market demands, with the share of commercial launches steadily rising.
The Long March-8A rocket, in particular, is known for its cost-effectiveness and high adaptability, having successfully undertaken multiple satellite internet constellation deployment missions.
