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Long March Launch History: A Comprehensive Guide

Artemis I rocket being transported on a crawler-transporter during nighttime rollout at Kennedy Space Center.
Image: NASA/KSC
Quick answer · as of 14 Sept 2026

Discover the Long March Hub, tracking every Chinese launch since 1970 with detailed data and insights.

Key figures · as of 14 Sept 2026 · Orbital Radar tracking data
Active satellites18,105
Catalogued objects29,427
Starlink active9,839

The Long March launch history is a testament to China's ambitious space programme, with the first launch occurring in 1970. Orbital Radar's Long March Hub offers a detailed record of these launches, providing insights into the evolution of China's space capabilities. This tool is essential for understanding the strategic developments in Chinese space exploration.

Understanding the Long March Hub

The Long March Hub is a comprehensive tool that catalogues every Chinese Long March rocket launch since 1970. It provides users with detailed information on each mission, including launch dates, payload types, and orbital parameters. The hub is designed to offer a clear view of China's space exploration efforts, highlighting the growth and technological advancements achieved over the decades.

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How to Use the Long March Hub

Mobile Launcher Platform with solid rocket boosters moving from Vehicle Assembly Building for vibration testing.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Mobile Launcher Platform (MLP) number 3 and a set of twin solid rocket boosters, atop the crawler-transporter, crawls away from the Vehicle Assembly Building in support o · Image: NASA/KSC

Using the Long March Hub is straightforward. Users can access detailed records of each launch by visiting the Long March Hub. The interface allows for filtering launches by year, payload type, and mission success. This makes it easy to track the progress of China's space programme and analyse trends over time.

The Science Behind the Data

Astronaut Mastracchio conducts SPHERES Vertigo Experiment inside the International Space Station's microgravity environment.
Mastracchio during SPHERES Vertigo Experiment · Image: NASA/JSC

The data presented in the Long March Hub is sourced from Orbital Radar's live catalogue, which tracks over 29,427 objects in orbit. This includes active satellites, debris, and rocket bodies. By analysing these data points, users can gain insights into the success rates of different Long March variants and the types of payloads launched. Such analysis is crucial for understanding the impact of China's space activities on the global space environment.

Key Takeaways

The Long March Hub provides a detailed historical record of China's space launches, offering insights into the country's technological progress. With 18,105 active satellites currently in orbit, understanding the contributions of the Long March series is essential for global space situational awareness. The hub allows users to see the evolution of China's space capabilities, from early satellite launches to more recent complex missions.

For those interested in broader Chinese space activities, the China in Space hub offers a live dashboard of the entire Chinese fleet and constellations. Additionally, the Satellite Launch Log provides a searchable database of every orbital launch in history, offering a global perspective on space exploration.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Long March rocket series?
The Long March rocket series is a family of expendable launch systems operated by the China National Space Administration (CNSA). It has been used for Chinese space launches since 1970.
How many Long March launches have there been?
As of the latest data, there have been numerous Long March launches since 1970, each contributing to China's growing presence in space. The exact number can be found in the Long March Hub.
What was the first Long March launch?
The first Long March launch occurred on 24 April 1970, when the Long March 1 rocket successfully placed China's first satellite, Dong Fang Hong 1, into orbit.
How does the Long March Hub track launches?
The Long March Hub uses data from Orbital Radar's live catalogue, which tracks all objects in orbit, including active satellites, debris, and rocket bodies, to provide detailed launch records.
Why is the Long March series important?
The Long March series is crucial for China's space exploration efforts, enabling the deployment of satellites, lunar missions, and other scientific endeavours, significantly contributing to global space exploration.
📎 Cite this article · data available
APA
Orbital Radar Newsroom. (2026). Long March Launch History: A Comprehensive Guide. Orbital Radar. https://orbitalradar.com/blog/long-march-hub-guide
MLA
"Long March Launch History: A Comprehensive Guide." Orbital Radar, 14 September 2026, https://orbitalradar.com/blog/long-march-hub-guide.
BibTeX
@misc{orbitalradar_long_march_hub_guide, title = {Long March Launch History: A Comprehensive Guide}, author = {{Orbital Radar}}, year = {2026}, howpublished = {\url{https://orbitalradar.com/blog/long-march-hub-guide}} }
The live figures in this article are available as machine-readable data: download JSON (CC BY 4.0, attribute “Orbital Radar” with a link).
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