(Yicai Global) Dec. 22 -- China's new medium-lift carrier rocket Long March-8 made its maiden flight today, carrying five satellites into orbit.

The rocket blasted off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on the coast of southern China's Hainan province at noon, according to the China National Space Administration.

The Long March-8 rocket has a total length of 50.3 meters with a takeoff mass of 356 tons. It can carry a payload of at least 4.5 tons to a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 700 kilometers.

The rocket fills the gap of 3 tons to 4.5 tons in China's launch capability to SSO. It should accelerate the upgrading of launch vehicles, according to the CNSA.

Editor: Emmi Laine