New Long March 8 Ready for Maiden Flight

China's Long March-8 Y1 carrier rocket is ready for its maiden flight at the end of December, as it was vertically transported to the launching area of the Wenchang Space Launch Center in South China's Hainan province on Dec 16.

Developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the new rocket will be used in satellite launch missions to low-Earth and geostationary transfer orbits.

The newly-developed Long March-8 Y1 carrier rocket is transported to the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province on Dec 16. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

(Executive editor: Wang Ruoting)