Long March 7A Launch: Time & How to Watch (Aug 9, 2026)

What is launching?

A Long March 7A rocket operated by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) is scheduled to launch an undisclosed payload on August 9, 2026, at 11:00 UTC from Pad 201 at the Wenchang Space Launch Site on Hainan Island, People's Republic of China. The Long March 7A is China's medium-lift rocket for high-energy orbits, designed primarily to deliver payloads to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO).

The launch status is currently listed as To Be Confirmed (TBC), meaning the date and time may shift as Chinese authorities finalize the schedule. Payload specifics for this mission have not been publicly disclosed, a common practice for many CASC missions.

When is the launch?

The launch is targeted for 11:00 UTC on Sunday, August 9, 2026. Converting to local times:

Because the mission carries a TBC status, confirm the timing on our rocket launch schedule before the day of flight.

What is the Long March 7A?

The Long March 7A (Chang Zheng 7A) is a three-stage variant of the Long March 7, upgraded with a hydrogen-fueled upper stage and four liquid-fueled strap-on boosters. It burns a clean combination of kerosene and liquid oxygen in its core stages, replacing the toxic hydrazine propellants used by older Chinese rockets.

Key specifications, according to CASC:

• Height: approximately 60 meters
• Liftoff mass: around 573 tonnes
• GTO payload capacity: up to 7 tonnes
• Boosters: 4 liquid-fueled strap-ons

The Long March 7A first flew in 2020 and has become one of China's key workhorses for delivering satellites to geostationary transfer orbit, complementing the heavier Long March 5 and the crew-rated Long March 7.

Where is it launching from?

The rocket lifts off from Pad 201 at the Wenchang Space Launch Site, China's newest and southernmost spaceport, located on Hainan Island at roughly 19 degrees north latitude. Its low-latitude location provides an efficiency boost for launches to equatorial and geostationary orbits, and its coastal position allows spent boosters to fall over the sea rather than populated areas — a key advantage over China's older inland launch centers.

Wenchang is the primary launch site for China's largest rockets, including the Long March 5 that lofts space station modules and deep-space probes.

What is the payload?

The payload for this mission has not been publicly announced. Long March 7A flights typically carry communications, navigation, or classified government satellites to geostationary transfer orbit. Given the rocket's 7-tonne GTO capacity and its heritage of deploying large geostationary spacecraft, the payload is likely a sizeable satellite bound for a high-energy orbit.

We will update our latest launch news as official details are released.

How to watch live

Chinese launches are not always broadcast live in advance, and coverage of Long March 7A missions is often published after liftoff by state media. If a live stream is provided, it will typically appear via Chinese state broadcasters near the launch window.

Regardless of official video, you can follow the mission in real time on Cosmik. Track the countdown on our launch tracker, and once the payload reaches orbit you can visualize its trajectory on our live 3D satellite map. Learn more about following spacecraft with our guide to tracking satellites.

Why this launch matters

China has maintained one of the world's highest annual launch cadences, and the Long March 7A plays a central role in populating geostationary orbit with communications and reconnaissance satellites. Each successful flight adds to CASC's growing tally of high-energy orbital missions and reinforces Wenchang's status as the hub for China's most demanding launches.

Launch data for this mission is sourced from The Space Devs Launch Library.

Follow the launch live on Cosmik

Don't miss liftoff. Set a free launch alert on Cosmik to get notified before the Long March 7A flies on August 9, and watch the deployed satellite join the thousands of objects on our real-time 3D map of the solar system. Explore the full upcoming launch schedule to plan your viewing.