Long March 5
 A Long March 5B launches the Tianhe core module of Tiangong space station, Wenchang Space Launch Site, 2021 | |
| Function | Heavy-lift launch vehicle |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | CALT |
| Country of origin | China |
| Cost per launch | ~US$160 million |
| Size | |
| Height | 56.97 m (186.9 ft) (standard) 63.2 m (207 ft) (extended fairing) |
| Diameter | 5 m (16 ft) |
| Mass | 851,800 kg (1,877,900 lb) |
| Stages | 2 |
| Payload to LEO | |
| Altitude | 200 km × 400 km (120 mi × 250 mi) |
| Mass | 25,000 kg (55,000 lb) |
| Payload to GTO | |
| Mass | 14,000 kg (31,000 lb) |
| Payload to TLI | |
| Mass | 8,800–9,400 kg (19,400–20,700 lb) |
| Payload to GEO | |
| Mass | 5,100 kg (11,200 lb) |
| Payload to SSO | |
| Altitude | 700 km (430 mi) |
| Mass | 15,000 kg (33,000 lb) |
| Payload to SSO | |
| Altitude | 2,000 km (1,200 mi) |
| Mass | 6,700 kg (14,800 lb) |
| Payload to MEO | |
| Mass | 13,000 kg (29,000 lb) |
| Payload to TMI | |
| Mass | 6,000 kg (13,000 lb) |
| Associated rockets | |
| Family | Long March |
| Comparable | |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Active |
| Launch sites | Wenchang, LC-1 |
| Total launches | 18
|
| Success(es) | 17
|
| Failure | 1 (CZ-5)
|
| First flight |
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| Last flight |
|
| Carries passengers or cargo |
|
| Boosters – CZ-5-300 | |
| No. boosters | 4 |
| Height | 27.6 m (91 ft) |
| Diameter | 3.35 m (11.0 ft) |
| Empty mass | 13,800 kg (30,400 lb) |
| Gross mass | 156,600 kg (345,200 lb) |
| Powered by | 2 × YF-100 |
| Maximum thrust | Sea level: 2,400 kN (540,000 lbf) Vacuum: 2,680 kN (600,000 lbf) |
| Total thrust | 9,600 kN (2,200,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | Sea level: 300 s (2.9 km/s) Vacuum: 335.1 s (3.286 km/s) |
| Burn time | 173 seconds |
| Propellant | LOX / RP-1 |
| First stage – CZ-5-500 | |
| Height | 33.16 m (108.8 ft) |
| Diameter | 5 m (16 ft) |
| Gross mass | 186,900 kg (412,000 lb) |
| Propellant mass | 165,300 kg (364,400 lb) |
| Powered by | 2 × YF-77 |
| Maximum thrust | Sea level: 1,036 kN (233,000 lbf) Vacuum: 1,400 kN (310,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | Sea level: 316.7 s (3.106 km/s) Vacuum: 428 s (4.20 km/s) |
| Burn time | 492 seconds |
| Propellant | LOX / LH2 |
| Second stage (CZ-5) – CZ-5-HO | |
| Height | 11.54 m (37.9 ft) |
| Diameter | 5 m (16 ft) |
| Empty mass | 5,100 kg (11,200 lb) |
| Gross mass | 36,000 kg (79,000 lb) |
| Propellant mass | 29,100 kg (64,200 lb) |
| Powered by | 2 × YF-75D |
| Maximum thrust | 176.72 kN (39,730 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 442.6 s (4.340 km/s) |
| Burn time | 700 seconds |
| Propellant | LOX / LH2 |
| Third stage – YZ-2 (Optional) | |
| Diameter | 3.8 m (12 ft) |
| Powered by | 2 × YF-50D |
| Maximum thrust | 13 kN (2,900 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 316 s (3.10 km/s) |
| Burn time | 1,105 seconds |
| Propellant | N2O4 / UDMH |
Long March 5 (LM-5; Chinese: 长征五号; pinyin: Chángzhēng wǔ hào) or Changzheng 5 (CZ-5), also known by its nickname "Pang-Wu" (胖五, "Fat-Five"), is a Chinese heavy-lift launch vehicle developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT). The most powerful Chinese rocket and Long March rocket ever built, it is also the most powerful orbital launch vehicle operating outside of the United States. First launched in 2016, CZ-5 has carried cornerstones of the Chinese space program: all three modules of the Tiangong space station, two Moon sample returns, and one Mars mission.
There are two CZ-5 variants: CZ-5 and CZ-5B. The maximum payload capacities are approximately 25,000 kg (55,000 lb) to low Earth orbit (for CZ-5B) and approximately 14,000 kg (31,000 lb) to geostationary transfer orbit (for CZ-5). This makes the CZ-5B the world's fifth most powerful orbital launch vehicle by payload to LEO and the CZ-5 the second most powerful by payload to GTO, comparable to the US Vulcan Centaur, ESA Ariane 6, and Russian Angara A5. The hydrolox core stage uses two YF-77 engines, while its four kerolox boosters each use two YF-100 engines, ultimately derived from the Soviet RD-120. The hydrolox second stage uses two YF-75D engines. The Yuanzheng-2 third stage, only used on the CZ-5 variant, is powered by two hypergolic YF-50D engines.
As of April 2026, Long March 5 variants have launched 17 times, with 16 successes, all from the southernmost Wenchang Space Launch Site. Ten have been on the CZ-5 and seven on the CZ-5B. The first CZ-5 launched on in November 2016. Following a core stage failure on its second launch in June 2017, it underwent a 28-month launch hiatus, before resuming successful flights. The CZ-5B first launched in 2020.
The CZ-5 has launched large space probes: the Tianwen-1, China's first Mars orbiter, lander, and rover, as well as Chang'e 5 and Chang'e 6, China's first Moon sample return missions. CZ-5 has also launched military satellites of the geostationary Shijian and Tongxin Jishu Shiyan programs, and low Earth Yaogan program. The CZ-5B variant, lacking the Yuanzheng-2 upper stage, has launched larger low Earth orbit payloads: all modules of Tiangong: Tianhe, Wentian, and Mengtian, in 2021 and 2022, an uncrewed prototype of the Mengzhou lunar crew module, in 2020, and 10-satellite polar orbit clusters of the Guowang satellite internet constellation, since 2024.
The CZ-5 is planned to launch the 2026 Chang'e 7 and 2029 Chang'e 8 Moon missions carrying orbiters, landers, and rovers, the 2028 dual-launch Tianwen-3 Mars sample return and 2029 Tianwen-4 Jupiter orbiter and Uranus flyby mission, and potentially the Shensuo heliosphere probes. The CZ-5B is expected to launch the Xuntian space telescope to co-orbit with Tiangong in late 2026.