China to transfer Long March-8A rocket to launch area

China will transport a Long March-8A carrier rocket to the launch pad at the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site in southern China on Saturday for an upcoming mission.

The rocket, developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), is scheduled to be launched at an appropriate time in the near future.

The Long March-8A carrier rocket represents a significant upgrade to the Long March-8 series. It successfully conducted its maiden flight on Feb 11, 2025.

The rocket, 50.5 meters long with a takeoff weight of 371 tonnes, is capable of carrying up to 7 tonnes to a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 700 km.

It is designed specifically for high-density, rapid constellation deployment, serving as a core vehicle for China's satellite internet constellation construction.

China to transfer Long March-8A rocket to launch area

China to transfer Long March-8A rocket to launch area

Yemenis took to the streets on Friday in Al-Sabeen Square in the capital, Sanaa, as well as in other areas under Houthi control, to express solidarity with Iran and Lebanon.

The demonstrations were held to protest ongoing military operations by the United States and Israel against the two countries.

Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi reiterated on Friday that his forces will stand firmly with Iran. He stressed that the group is ready to take action should the situation require it.

Officials from the group stood behind those remarks while attending the demonstrations.

"As our leader said, we should observe and monitor, and move the situation, with our hands already on the trigger, in the sense that we are ready for any new situation, for any emergency and for what the situation calls us, because we are ready," said Houthi official Ali Al-Dailami.

Yemenis demonstrate against US, Israeli military actions