Long March 5#Second flight

File:CZ-5 vs CZ-5B rendering.jpg

Since 2010, Long March launches (all versions) have made up 15–25% of the global launch totals. Growing domestic demand for launch services has also allowed China's state launch provider to maintain a healthy manifest. Additionally, China had been able to secure some international launch contracts by offering package deals that bundle launch vehicles with Chinese satellites, thereby circumventing the effects of U.S. embargo.{{cite news|last1=Henry|first1=Caleb|title=Back-to-back commercial satellite wins leave China Great Wall hungry for more|url=http://spacenews.com/back-to-back-commercial-satellite-wins-leave-china-great-wall-hungry-for-more/|publisher=SpaceNews|date=August 22, 2017}}

China's main objective for initiating the new CZ-5 program in 2007 was in anticipation of its future requirement for larger LEO and GTO payload capacities during the next 20–30 years period. Formal approval of the Long March 5 program occurred in 2007 following two decades of feasibility studies when funding was finally granted by the Chinese government. At the time, the new rocket was expected to be manufactured at a facility in Tianjin, a coastal city near Beijing, while launch was expected to occur at the new Wenchang Space Launch Site in the southernmost island province of Hainan.

In July 2012, a new {{nowrap|1200 kN}} thrust LOX/kerosene engine to be used on the Long March 5 boosters was test-fired by China.{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/16814-china-engine-test-long-march-5-rocket.html|title=China Tests Powerful Rocket Engine for New Booster|publisher=Space.com|date=30 July 2012|access-date=6 May 2021|archive-date=6 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161106214553/http://www.space.com/16814-china-engine-test-long-march-5-rocket.html|url-status=live}}Additional engine test-firings took place in July 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/21957-china-rocket-engine-test-space-station.html|title=China Long March 5 Rocket Engine Test|publisher=Space.com|first1=Leonard|last1=David|date=15 July 2013|quote=Chinese Rocket Engine Test a Big Step for Space Station Project|access-date=6 May 2021|archive-date=25 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125202542/https://www.space.com/21957-china-rocket-engine-test-space-station.html|url-status=live}}

The first photos of a CZ-5, undergoing tests, were released in March 2015.{{cite web|url=http://errymath.blogspot.com/2015/03/first-released-picture-of-long-march-5.html|title=First released picture of Long March 5 (CZ-5) Heavy Rocket|author=Errymath|access-date=8 February 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304223856/http://errymath.blogspot.com/2015/03/first-released-picture-of-long-march-5.html|url-status=live}}

The first production CZ-5 was shipped from the port of Tianjin in North China to Wenchang Space Launch Site on Hainan Island on 20 September 2015 for launch rehearsals.{{cite news|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-09/20/c_134642723.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151203165712/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-09/20/c_134642723.htm|title=China to rehearse new carrier rocket for lunar mission|url-status=dead|date=2015-09-20|archive-date=2015-12-03|work=Xinhua News Agency}}

The maiden flight of the CZ-5 was initially scheduled for 2014, but this subsequently slipped to 2016.[http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ spaceflightnow] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224185459/http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/|date=24 December 2016}}, accessed 30 September 2016

The final production and testing of the first CZ-5 rocket to be launched into orbit were completed at its Tianjin manufacturing facility on or about 16 August 2016 and the various segments of the rocket were shipped to the launch center on Hainan island shortly thereafter.{{cite web|url=http://www.airforceworld.com/a/20160819/3187.html|title=Chinese Long March 5 rocket ready to launch |publisher=AirForceWorld.com|date=17 August 2015|access-date=24 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010063115/http://www.airforceworld.com/a/20160819/3187.html|archive-date=10 October 2016 |url-status=dead}}

The launch was planned to take place at around 10:00 UTC on 3 November 2016, but several issues, involving an oxygen vent and chilling of the engines, were detected during the preparation, causing a delay of nearly three hours. The final countdown was interrupted three times due to problems with the flight control computer and the tracking software.{{cite web|author=罪恶大天使|url=https://www.weibo.com/ttarticle/p/show?id=2309404038022592094692|title=长征五号首飞纪实|trans-title=The first flight of the Long March 5|website=weibo.com|date=4 November 2016|access-date=8 February 2019|language=zh|archive-date=30 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330010930/https://www.weibo.com/ttarticle/p/show%3Fid%3D2309404038022592094692|url-status=live}} The rocket finally launched at 12:43 UTC.{{cite web|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/11/03/china-launches-long-march-5-one-of-the-worlds-most-powerful-rockets/|title=China launches Long March 5, one of the world's most powerful rockets|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=3 November 2016|access-date=6 May 2021|archive-date=30 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430005235/https://spaceflightnow.com/2016/11/03/china-launches-long-march-5-one-of-the-worlds-most-powerful-rockets/|url-status=live}}

The second launch on 2 July 2017 experienced an anomaly shortly after launch and was switched to an alternate, gentler trajectory. However, it was declared a failure 45 minutes into the flight.{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/07/02/asia/china-rocket-launch/index.html|title=Chinese rocket launch fails after liftoff|date=3 July 2017|publisher=CNN|access-date=6 May 2021|archive-date=27 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427163034/https://edition.cnn.com/2017/07/02/asia/china-rocket-launch/index.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/07/long-march-5-lofts-shijian-18/|title=Long March 5 suffers failure with Shijian-18 launch|date=2 July 2017|publisher=NASASpaceFlight|first=Rui C.|last=Barbosa|access-date=4 September 2018|archive-date=11 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171111161126/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/07/long-march-5-lofts-shijian-18/|url-status=live}} Investigations revealed the source of the second flight's failure to be located in one of the core stage's YF-77 engines (specifically, in the oxidizer's turbo-pump).

The Y3 mission of the Long March 5 program was launched on 27 December 2019, at about 12:45 UTC from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan, China. CASC declared the mission a success within an hour of launch, after the Shijian-20 communications satellite was placed in geostationary transfer orbit, thus marking the Long March 5 program's return to flight.{{Cite news|url=https://spacenews.com/successful-long-march-5-launch-opens-way-for-chinas-major-space-plans/|title=Successful Long March 5 launch opens way for China's major space plans|website=spacenews.com|first=Andrew|last=Jones|access-date=2019-12-27|archive-date=6 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506222255/https://spacenews.com/successful-long-march-5-launch-opens-way-for-chinas-major-space-plans/|url-status=live}}

The fourth flight of the Long March 5 program also marked the debut of the CZ-5B variant. This variant retains the base Long March 5's core stage and its four strap-on boosters; however, the CZ-5's second stage (with 2 YF-75D engines) has been removed from the CZ-5B. This variant is used to launch heavy low Earth orbit payloads such as components of the Tiangong space station. The 5B variant may also be considered for launching satellite constellations in the future using the Yuanzheng upper stage.{{cite tweet|title=Deputy designer of Long March 5B says CZ5B is not only for launches of Tiangong modules, but also launches of constellation sats in future with Yuanzheng upper stage. That would be a lot and I'm curious how the core stage will be dealt with, hopefully they won't enter orbit. |url=https://twitter.com/CNSpaceflight/status/1584959475265703937|number=1584959475265703937|user=CNSpaceflight|access-date=November 20, 2022}}

The first flight of the 5B variant ("Y1 mission") carried an uncrewed prototype of China's future deep space crewed spacecraft, and, as a secondary payload, the Flexible Inflatable Cargo Re-entry Vehicle. The Y1 mission was launched on 5 May 2020, at 10:00 UTC from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan Island. CASC declared the launch a success after the payloads were placed in low Earth orbit.{{cite web|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/05/05/chinas-first-long-march-5b-rocket-launches-on-crew-capsule-test-flight/|title=China's first Long March 5B rocket launches on crew capsule test flight|work=Spaceflight Now|date=5 May 2020|access-date=12 February 2021|first=Stephen|last=Clark|archive-date=15 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115184708/https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/05/05/chinas-first-long-march-5b-rocket-launches-on-crew-capsule-test-flight/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Clark|first=Stephen|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/01/24/prototypes-for-new-chinese-crew-capsule-and-space-station-arrive-at-launch-site//|title=Prototypes for new Chinese crew capsule and space station arrive at launch site|work=Spaceflight Now|date=24 January 2020|access-date=25 January 2020|archive-date=25 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125065841/https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/01/24/prototypes-for-new-chinese-crew-capsule-and-space-station-arrive-at-launch-site/|url-status=live}}

The flight's secondary payload, the experimental cargo return craft, malfunctioned during its return to Earth on 6 May 2020.{{cite news|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/05/06/experimental-chinese-cargo-return-capsule-malfunctions-during-re-entry/|title=Experimental Chinese cargo return capsule malfunctions during re-entry|date=6 May 2020|first=Stephen|last=Clark|work=Spaceflight Now|access-date=12 February 2021|archive-date=28 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128084150/https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/05/06/experimental-chinese-cargo-return-capsule-malfunctions-during-re-entry/|url-status=live}} Nevertheless, the return capsule of the prototype next-generation crewed spacecraft, the flight's primary payload, successfully landed in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 05:49 UTC, on 8 May 2020. The prototype spacecraft flew in orbit for two days and 19 hours and carried out a series of successful experiments and technological verifications.{{cite news|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-05/08/c_139041254.htm|title=China Focus: Return capsule of China's experimental manned spaceship comes back successfully|date=8 May 2020|access-date=12 February 2021|work=Xinhua|archive-date=10 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200510130051/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-05/08/c_139041254.htm|url-status=dead}} The Y1 mission's core stage may have been the most massive object to make an uncontrolled re-entry since the Soviet Union's Salyut 7 space station in 1991 and the United States' Skylab in 1979, excluding the failed controlled reentry of Space Shuttle Columbia over populated areas of the Continental United States in 2003.{{cite web|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/05/09/u-s-military-tracking-large-chinese-rocket-reentry/|title=U.S. military tracking unguided re-entry of large Chinese rocket|date=9 May 2020|website=Spaceflight Now|access-date=12 February 2021|first=Stephen|last=Clark|archive-date=25 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225184630/https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/05/09/u-s-military-tracking-large-chinese-rocket-reentry/|url-status=live}}{{efn|A piece of debris up to 12-meters long, possibly originating from the reentry of the CZ-5B core stage from this launch, was found in the Ivory Coast's village of Mahounou on about 11 or 12 May 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/13/21256484/china-rocket-debris-africa-uncontrolled-reentry-long-march-5b|title=An out-of-control Chinese rocket may have dumped debris in Africa after falling from space|date=13 May 2020|access-date=7 May 2021|archive-date=8 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508044940/https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/13/21256484/china-rocket-debris-africa-uncontrolled-reentry-long-march-5b|url-status=live}}}}{{efn|The core stage of the CZ-5B Y2 mission also attained enough velocity to remain in low but declining Earth orbit for over a week, as did the core stage for the CZ-5B Y1 mission; the CZ-5B Y2 mission's core stage eventually reentered Earth's atmosphere many kilometers above the Arabian Peninsula during the early morning hours of 9 May 2021 (UTC) with a possible debris impact location off the Maldives in the Indian Ocean.{{Cite news|url=https://spacenews.com/long-march-5b-falls-into-indian-ocean-after-world-follows-rocket-reentry/|title=Successful Long March 5B falls into Indian Ocean after world follows rocket reentry|website=spacenews.com|first=Andrew|last=Jones|access-date=2021-05-09}}}}

Long March 5B was the workhorse during the Tiangong space station construction. The second Long March 5B mission was the launch of Tianhe core module, the first component of the Chinese space station.{{cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/china-assembling-rocket-to-launch-first-space-station-module/ |title=China assembling rocket to launch first space station module |website=SpaceNews |date=18 February 2021 |first=Andrew |last=Jones }}

{{multiple image

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The chief designer of CZ-5 is Li Dong ({{zh|c=李东}}) of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT). The CZ-5 family includes three primary modular core stages of 5.2-m diameter (maximum). The vehicle's total length is 60.5 meters and its weight at launch is 643 tons, with a thrust of 833.8 tons. Boosters of various capabilities and diameters ranging from 2.25 meters to 3.35 meters would be assembled from three modular core stages and strap-on stages. The first stage and boosters would have a choice of engines that use different liquid rocket propellants: 1200 kN thrust LOX / kerosene engines or 1550 kN thrust LOX / LH2. The upper stage would use improved versions of the YF-75 engine.

Engine development began in 2000–2001, with testing directed by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) commencing in 2005. Versions of both new engines, the YF-100 and the YF-77, had been successfully tested by mid-2007.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

The CZ-5 series can deliver ~23 tonnes of payload to LEO or ~14 tonnes of payload to GTO (geosynchronous transfer orbit). The CZ-5 launch vehicle would consist of a 5.0-m diameter core stage and four 3.35-m diameter strap-on boosters, which would be able to send a ~22 tonne payload to low Earth orbit (LEO).

Six CZ-5 variants were originally planned,{{cite book|last=Harvey|first=Brian|title=China in Space: The Great Leap Forward|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hZBAAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA364|year=2013|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-1-4614-5043-6|page=364|access-date=6 May 2021|archive-date=5 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805161835/https://books.google.com/books?id=hZBAAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA364|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Zhao|first1=Lei|url=http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2016-04/21/content_24714283.htm|title=6 versions of Long March 5 rocket inworks|website=usa.chinadaily.com.cn|date=21 April 2016|access-date=23 April 2016|archive-date=7 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507213633/http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2016-04/21/content_24714283.htm|url-status=live}} but the light variants were cancelled in favor of CZ-6 and CZ-7 family launch vehicles.{{citation needed|date=May 2016}}

File:Launching Tianhe Core Module.jpg{{Further|List of space debris fall incidents}}

The first stage of the Long March 5B variant, which can reach orbital velocity and weighs 21.6 tonnes, currently lacks the capability for controlled atmospheric re-entry, meaning that debris could cause damage on the ground upon re-entry.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/07/25/china-launches-rocket-space-station-tiangong/ |title=Debris from China rocket launch to crash-land — and no one knows where |date=2022-07-25 |first=Christian |last=Shepherd |newspaper=The Washington Post |place=Washington, D.C. |issn=0190-8286 |oclc=1330888409 |access-date=26 July 2022 |archive-date=26 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726021130/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/07/25/china-launches-rocket-space-station-tiangong/ |url-status=live }} Without modification, it is expected all LEO launches of the Long March 5B will result in uncontrolled re-entries.{{cite web |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/05/10/nasa-chief-criticizes-china-for-uncontrolled-rocket-re-entry/ |title=NASA chief criticizes China for uncontrolled rocket re-entry |website=Spaceflight Now |date=10 May 2021 |first=Stephen |last=Clark |access-date=29 October 2022 |archive-date=9 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209054251/https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/05/10/nasa-chief-criticizes-china-for-uncontrolled-rocket-re-entry/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://gizmodo.com/problematic-rocket-launch-expected-china-space-station-1849705767 |title=Another Problematic Launch Expected as China Seeks to Complete Its Space Station |website=Gizmodo |date=26 October 2022 |first=Passant |last=Rabie |access-date=29 October 2022 |archive-date=29 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221029223046/https://gizmodo.com/problematic-rocket-launch-expected-china-space-station-1849705767 |url-status=live }}

The 5B is the specific variant in concern due to its unique LEO configuration. The core rocket stage (first stage) is launched directly into orbit,{{cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/huge-rocket-looks-set-for-uncontrolled-reentry-following-chinese-space-station-launch/ |title=Huge rocket looks set for uncontrolled re-entry following Chinese space station launch |website=Space News |date=30 April 2021 |first=Andrew |last=Jones }} which also unusually serves as the upper stage to perform payload insertion.{{cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/massive-long-march-5b-booster-predicted-to-reenter-on-july-31/ |title=Massive Long March 5B booster predicted to re-enter on July 31 |website=Space News |date=26 July 2022 |first=Andrew |last=Jones }} Typically, the rocket's first stage never reaches orbital velocity, while the smaller upper stage will usually burn up in the atmosphere during re-entry. However, Long March 5B's first and upper stage is combined into one, making the mitigation effort more difficult.

Potential solutions include restarting engines during re-entry to reduce speed and collision probability, as the case for Long March 2D. China has also developed grid fins on other Long March variants to steer stages during re-entry.{{cite web |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/10/china-launch-mengtian/ |title=China to launch Mengtian science module to Tiangong space station |website=NASA Spaceflight |date=30 October 2022 |first=Adrian |last=Beil |access-date=31 October 2022 |archive-date=31 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031200306/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/10/china-launch-mengtian/ |url-status=live }} However, Long March 5B has yet to demonstrate these capabilities.

The debris found at Ivory Coast in May 2022 was reportedly the remains of the first Long March 5B launch (5B-Y1).{{cite web |last=Tingley |first=Brett |date=4 November 2022 |title=Whew! 23-ton Chinese rocket debris falls to Earth over Pacific Ocean |url=https://www.space.com/china-long-march-5b-rocket-falls-into-pacific-ocean |website=Space.com |access-date=14 March 2023 |archive-date=5 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105110754/https://www.space.com/china-long-march-5b-rocket-falls-into-pacific-ocean |url-status=live }} Although the probability of rocket debris hitting populated areas is mathematically minuscule, some scientists fear the lax attitude of many countries could eventually result in casualties.{{cite web |url=https://gizmodo.com/falling-rocket-parts-more-likely-to-cause-deaths-1849165671 |title=Deaths From Falling Rocket Debris Are Highly Unlikely—but That's Changing |website=Gizmodo |date=11 July 2022 |first=Kyle |last=Barr |access-date=29 October 2022 |archive-date=26 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221026215452/https://gizmodo.com/falling-rocket-parts-more-likely-to-cause-deaths-1849165671 |url-status=live }}

Responding to the criticism, CNSA claimed they had conducted measures to ensure safe re-entries. Xu Yansong, former director for international cooperation at the China National Space Administration (CNSA), told the audience on the CNSA live stream for 5B-Y3 that the re-entry process was improved with the "passivation process" ({{zh|钝化处理}}{{cite web |url=https://www.dw.com/zh/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD%E9%95%BF%E5%BE%81%E4%BA%94%E5%8F%B7%E7%A2%8E%E7%89%87%E9%80%A0%E6%88%90%E5%8D%B1%E5%AE%B3%E7%9A%84%E6%A6%82%E7%8E%87%E6%9E%81%E4%BD%8E/a-57464784 |title=中国："长征五号"碎片造成危害的概率极低 |work=Deutsche Welle |language=zh |date=5 July 2021 |access-date=14 March 2023 |archive-date=14 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314073743/https://www.dw.com/zh/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD%E9%95%BF%E5%BE%81%E4%BA%94%E5%8F%B7%E7%A2%8E%E7%89%87%E9%80%A0%E6%88%90%E5%8D%B1%E5%AE%B3%E7%9A%84%E6%A6%82%E7%8E%87%E6%9E%81%E4%BD%8E/a-57464784 |url-status=live }}), and the core stage was specially designed with lighter materials so the vast majority of components will be ablated during the re-entry.{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/28/23280497/china-long-march-5b-uncontrolled-rocket-reentry |title=It's time for another round of anxiety over a Chinese rocket booster falling back to Earth |website=The Verge |date=28 July 2022 |first=Loren |last=Grush |access-date=14 March 2023 |archive-date=14 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314073746/https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/28/23280497/china-long-march-5b-uncontrolled-rocket-reentry |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.dw.com/zh/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD%E9%A9%B3%E5%9B%9E%E5%AF%B9%E5%85%B6%E8%BF%90%E8%BD%BD%E7%81%AB%E7%AE%AD%E6%AE%8B%E9%AA%B8%E7%9A%84%E5%AE%89%E5%85%A8%E8%AD%A6%E5%91%8A/a-57450895 |title=中国驳回对其运载火箭残骸的安全警告 |work=Deutsche Welle |language=zh |date=6 May 2021 |access-date=14 March 2023 |archive-date=14 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314073744/https://www.dw.com/zh/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD%E9%A9%B3%E5%9B%9E%E5%AF%B9%E5%85%B6%E8%BF%90%E8%BD%BD%E7%81%AB%E7%AE%AD%E6%AE%8B%E9%AA%B8%E7%9A%84%E5%AE%89%E5%85%A8%E8%AD%A6%E5%91%8A/a-57450895 |url-status=live }} Before the launch of 5B-Y4, Liu Bing, deputy director-designer of the Long March 5B, told journalists that "an elaborative evaluation" was performed on the 5B to enable safe re-entry, though no details regarding the improved re-entry procedure were revealed.{{cite web |url=https://www.space.com/china-long-march-rocket-fall-mengtian-launch |title=Chinese launch next week will set the stage for another big space-junk crash |website=Space.com |date=28 October 2022 |first=Leonard |last=David |access-date=31 October 2022 |archive-date=31 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031224657/https://www.space.com/china-long-march-rocket-fall-mengtian-launch |url-status=live }}

The core stage of the Long March 5B-Y3 re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 30 July 2022 over the Indian and Pacific oceans.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-62333546|title=Long March 5B: Debris from Chinese rocket falls back to Earth|work=BBC News|date=29 July 2022|access-date=31 July 2022|archive-date=30 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220730235901/https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-62333546|url-status=live}} The debris of 5B-Y4 fell down in south-central Pacific Ocean on 4 November 2022.{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/11/04/world/china-rocket-booster-long-march-reentry-scn/index.html |title=China's rocket booster falls from space, crash lands in the Pacific Ocean |website=CNN |date=4 November 2022 |first=Jackie |last=Wattles |access-date=14 March 2023 |archive-date=14 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314073743/https://edition.cnn.com/2022/11/04/world/china-rocket-booster-long-march-reentry-scn/index.html |url-status=live }} On 16 December 2024, the Long March 5B was launched with Yuanzheng-2 upper stage, meaning the core stage would not enter the orbit and return uncontrolled.{{cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/china-kicks-off-guowang-megaconstellation-with-long-march-5b-launch/ |title=China kicks off Guowang megaconstellation with Long March 5B launch |website=Space News |date=16 December 2024 |first=Andrew |last=Jones }}

Rockets in the Long March 5 family currently have accumulated a total of 14 launches {{as of|2025|04|28|lc=on}}. Of these, 13 were successful with a single failed launch. The cumulative success rate is {{percent|13|14|1}}.

{{ #invoke:Chart | bar chart

| height = 300

| width = 800

| stack = 1

| group 1 = 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0

| group 2 = 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0

| group 3 = 1: 0: 0: 1: 3: 1: 2: 1: 3: 1

| group 4 = 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1

| colors = FireBrick : Orange : ForestGreen : LightBlue

| group names = Failure : Partial failure : Success : Planned

| units suffix = _launches

| x legends = 2016 :::: 2020 :::: 2024 :

| y tick marks = 3

}}

{{Main list|List of Long March launches}}

{{Portal|Spaceflight|China}}

• Comparison of orbital launcher families
• Comparison of orbital launch systems
• Expendable launch system
• Lists of rockets

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Commons category-inline|Long March 5}}

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{{Long March rockets}}

{{CNSA space program}}

{{China space station}}

{{Orbital launch systems}}

Category:Long March (rocket family)

Category:Vehicles introduced in 2016

Category:2016 in technology

Category:2016 in China