The Long March 10B (CZ-10B) is a Chinese medium-lift launch vehicle, developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT). It is part of the Long March 10 series and is specifically designed for launching cargo-optimized payloads, including components for China's Satellite Internet megaconstellation, into low Earth orbit (LEO). Moving away from traditional expendable designs, the CZ-10B is a two-stage, single-core rocket featuring a partially reusable architecture with a recoverable first stage. Ahead of its upcoming launch from the Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site on Hainan Island, teams are completing final pad preparations for this highly anticipated flight.

Specs

Height: 70.2 meters (230 feet)

Diameter: 5.0 meters (16.4 feet)

Liftoff Mass: ~740 metric tons

Stages: 2 stages

Boosters: None (single-core configuration)

Propellant: Liquid Oxygen and Kerosene (LOX/RP-1) for the first stage; Liquid Oxygen and Methane (LOX/CH₄) for the second stage

Main Engines: 7 × YF-100K engines (Stage 1) and 1 × YF-219 engine (Stage 2)

Thrust (at liftoff): ~8,750 kN (1,970,000 lbf) from the first stage

Powered by eco-friendly liquid propellants, kerolox for the first stage and methalox for the upper stage, the CZ-10B offers a payload capacity of 16,000 kg to a 200 km LEO and around 11,000 kg to a higher 900 km orbit. To drastically reduce launch costs, tomorrow's mission will see the first stage attempt a downrange recovery at sea. The core is equipped with specialized hooks designed to catch a tensioned wire-net recovery apparatus mounted on a marine barge. If successful, this flight will play a critical role in establishing China’s foothold in the rapidly growing global commercial satellite launch market.

Photo courtesy of China Manned Space Agency.

Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site

Wenchang is a former suborbital test site located in Wenchang, Hainan, China.

It is China's southernmost launch site. Located on an island, rocket stages are delivered via ship.

Construction of the orbital launch pads began in September 2007, and the launch site was completed in October 2014. The first orbital launch took place on June 25th, 2016.

The site has two active launch pads, with a third planned. LC-1 is used to launch the Chang Zheng 5 rocket while LC-2 is used for the Chang Zheng 7 and 8 rocket families.

Operations at Wenchang are managed by the Xichang Satellite Launch Center.