BEIJING, Nov. 8 — In a significant advancement for China’s commercial space endeavors, the Long March-8 rocket successfully completed a full rehearsal at the country’s inaugural commercial space launch site located in Wenchang, Hainan Province. This event marks a pivotal moment as China prepares for the rocket’s scheduled launch at the end of this year.

The rehearsal, conducted by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, a branch of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), took place at the No. 1 launch pad. This facility is specifically designed for commercial missions, marking a new chapter in China’s space exploration capabilities.

The Long March-8 rocket, which made its first flight in December 2020, has proven to be a crucial asset for launching payloads ranging from 3 to 5 tonnes into sun-synchronous orbits. The recent week-long drill involved extensive subsystem and compatibility assessments, thorough inspections, emergency response exercises, and simulations of fueling and propellant dumping, ensuring the rocket’s readiness for its upcoming mission.

Construction of the Hainan commercial space launch site began in July 2022, and it is now recognized as the first launch site in China dedicated exclusively to commercial operations. This innovative facility is expected to enhance the country’s capabilities in the competitive global space market.

Looking ahead, CASC is also focusing on the development of reusable rockets with diameters of 4 meters and 5 meters, responding to the increasing demands of the burgeoning commercial space sector. The first flights of these new rocket designs are anticipated in 2025 and 2026, respectively.

The growth of China’s commercial space industry has been remarkable, expanding from 800 billion yuan (approximately 112 billion U.S. dollars) in 2019 to an estimated 1.9 trillion yuan in 2023. Projections suggest that the market scale could reach 2.34 trillion yuan by the end of 2024, highlighting the rapid development and potential of this sector.

As China continues to push the boundaries of its space exploration capabilities, the successful rehearsal of the Long March-8 rocket is a testament to the country’s commitment to advancing its presence in the commercial space market and fostering innovation in aerospace technology.