Long March-5 carrier rocket arrives at south China launch base

A Long March-5 carrier rocket has arrived in Wenchang in south China's Hainan Province, for the launch of the Shijian-18 communication satellite, scheduled for June, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation said Saturday.

It will be the second mission of the Long March-5 which made its maiden flight from Wenchang in November.

During the mission, the rocket will further test its core technology, accumulate data and provide support ahead of the launch of the Chang'e-5 lunar probe in the second half of this year.

Fuelled by liquid hydrogen, kerosene and liquid oxygen, the Long March-5 can carry a payload of 25 tonnes into low Earth orbit and 14 tonnes in geostationary orbit, over 2.5 times the capacity of current Long March carrier rockets.