China followed-up the successful first launch its new Long March-5 (CZ-5) heavy lift rocket, which blasted-off from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan on Nov. 3, by confirming plans to build an even bigger "mega rocket."
The State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (SASTIND) announced the success of Long March-5 first launch.
The main goal of the mission was to verify the design and performance of the new rocket and test the rocket's flight program, said China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the developer of Long March-5.
The Communist Party of China Central Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission hailed the Long March-5 as the pinnacle of innovation in carrier rocket science and technology.
They said the successful launch has propelled China to the forefront of the world in terms of rocket carrying capacity, and marks a milestone in China's transition from a major player in space to a major power in space.
Long March-5 is a two-stage rocket with a payload capacity of 25 metric tons to low-Earth orbit (LEO) and 14 metric tons to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). The largest of China's carrier rockets, Long March 5 payload capacity is 2.5 times that of the current main model Long March carrier rocket.
The new rocket is 57 meters long. It has a takeoff weight of 870 metric tons and a thrust of 1,060 metric tons. It is powered by eight liquid oxygen/kerosene rocket engines in four strap-on boosters: two liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen engines in the first stage and two relatively small liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen engines in the second stage.
Following the launch, Tian Yulong, chief engineer of the SASTIND, said confirmed that China is now developing a mega rocket with a payload capacity of 100 metric tons LEO.
The mega rocket, which will be used for manned Moon landings and deep space exploration, will probably make its maiden flight before 2030, said Tian.
The mega rocket, which was first revealed last June, will measure over 100 meters in length and will have a maximum payload capacity more than five times heavier than the current Long March series rockets.