Long March 6A

Active

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC)

March 29, 2022

Description

The Long March 6A is a Chinese launch vehicle of the Long March family, which was developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) and the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST). The vehicle is a further development of the Long March 6, with 2 YF-100 engines on the first stage as opposed to 1 on the Long March 6, augmented by 4 solid rocket boosters. The Long March 6A is China's first rocket with solid rocket boosters. The maiden launch of the Long March 6A took place 29 March 2022, successfully reaching orbit. It was also the first launch from the newly built launch complex 9A in Taiyuan.

Specifications
  • Minimum Stage
    1
  • Max Stage
    2
  • Length
    50.0 m
  • Diameter
    3.35 m
  • Fairing Diameter
    5.2 m
  • Launch Mass
    530.0 T
  • Thrust
    7230.0 kN
Family
  • Name
    Long March 6A
  • Family
  • Variant
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Long March 6A
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
  • Low Earth Orbit
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
  • Direct Geostationary
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity
    6400.0 kg

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

Government
Chairman & President: Lei Fanpei
CASC 1999

The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) is the main contractor for the Chinese space program. It is state-owned and has a number of subordinate entities which design, develop and manufacture a range of spacecraft, launch vehicles, strategic and tactical missile systems, and ground equipment. It was officially established in July 1999 as part of a Chinese government reform drive, having previously been one part of the former China Aerospace Corporation. Various incarnations of the program date back to 1956.

Upcoming Spaceflights


Long March 6A | G60 Polar Group TBD

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
June 5, 2025, 8:45 p.m.
Status: Go for Launch
Mission:

18 Low Earth Orbit communication satellites with Ku, Q and V band payloads for the G60 constellation operated by Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST) with funding backed by the Shanghai local government. Initial constellation will consist of 1296 satellites by 2027 with long term plans to expand it to 12000 satellites.

Polar Orbit
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Long March 6A | Yaogan 40 Group 02

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
May 11, 2025, 1:27 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

3 Chinese reconnaissance satellites of unknown purposes, officially reported as for "Electromagnetic environment probing".

Polar Orbit
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Long March 6A | Shiyan 27 01-06

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
April 18, 2025, 10:51 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

A group of 6 Chinese satellites reported to be for "space environment probing and other related technological testing". Actual usage not known.

Sun-Synchronous Orbit
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Long March 6A | G60 Polar Group 06

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Jan. 23, 2025, 5:15 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

18 Low Earth Orbit communication satellites with Ku, Q and V band payloads for the G60 constellation operated by Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST) with funding backed by the Shanghai local government. Initial constellation will consist of 1296 satellites by 2027 with long term plans to expand it to 12000 satellites.

Polar Orbit
Explore Share

Long March 6A | G60 Polar Group 03

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Dec. 5, 2024, 4:41 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

18 Low Earth Orbit communication satellites with Ku, Q and V band payloads for the G60 constellation operated by Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST) with funding backed by the Shanghai local government. Initial constellation will consist of 1296 satellites by 2027 with long term plans to expand it to 12000 satellites.

Polar Orbit
Explore Share

Long March 6A | G60 Polar Group 02

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Oct. 15, 2024, 11:06 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

18 Low Earth Orbit communication satellites with Ku, Q and V band payloads for the G60 constellation operated by Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST) with funding backed by the Shanghai local government. Initial constellation will consist of 1296 satellites by 2027 with long term plans to expand it to 12000 satellites.

Polar Orbit
Explore Share

Long March 6A | G60 Polar Group 01

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Aug. 6, 2024, 6:42 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

18 Low Earth Orbit communication satellites with Ku, Q and V band payloads for the G60 constellation operated by Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST) with funding backed by the Shanghai local government. Initial constellation will consist of 1296 satellites by 2027 with long term plans to expand it to 12000 satellites.

Polar Orbit
Explore Share

Long March 6A | Tianhui 5 Group 02

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
July 4, 2024, 10:49 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

A pair of satellites officially described as for cartographic surveying purposes, details TBD.

Sun-Synchronous Orbit
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Long March 6A | Yunhai 3-02

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
March 26, 2024, 10:51 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

Chinese satellite reported for atmospheric/ocean/environmental/spatial parameter research purposes, details TBD.

Sun-Synchronous Orbit
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Long March 6A | Tianhui 5

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Oct. 31, 2023, 10:50 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

A pair of satellites officially described as for cartographic surveying purposes, details TBD.

Sun-Synchronous Orbit
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Long March 6A | Yaogan 40

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Sept. 10, 2023, 4:30 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

3 Chinese reconnaissance satellites of unknown purposes, officially reported as for "Electromagnetic environment probing" purposes.

Polar Orbit
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Long March 6A | Yunhai 3

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Nov. 11, 2022, 10:52 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

Chinese satellite reported for atmospheric/ocean/environmental/spatial parameter research purposes, details TBD.

Sun-Synchronous Orbit
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Long March 6A | Demo Flight (Pujiang-2 & Tiankun-2)

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
March 29, 2022, 9:50 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

First launch of the Long March 6A rocket. Pujiang 2 is a Chinese technology demonstration satellite. Tiankun-2 is a satellite developed by CASIC, which is a technology demonstration mission to test out their new small satellite bus.

Sun-Synchronous Orbit
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A batch of 23 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


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