Editing Long March (rocket family) (section)

==== Long March 9 ====

{{main|Long March 9}}
The Long March 9 (LM-9, CZ-9, or Changzheng 9, Chinese: 长征九号) is a Chinese super-heavy carrier rocket concept proposed in 2018 <ref>{{cite web|last=Jones|first=Andrew|url=https://spacenews.com/china-reveals-details-for-super-heavy-lift-long-march-9-and-reusable-long-march-8-rockets/|title=China reveals details for super-heavy-lift Long March 9 and reusable Long March 8 rockets|publisher=SpaceNews|date=5 July 2018 |access-date=1 March 2021}}</ref> that is currently in study. It is planned for a maximum payload capacity of 140,000&nbsp;kg <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.americaspace.com/?p=22881|title=First Look: China's Big New Rockets|publisher=AmericaSpace|date=July 18, 2012|access-date=August 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170120045327/http://www.americaspace.com/?p=22881|archive-date=January 20, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> to [[low Earth orbit]] (LEO), 50,000&nbsp;kg to [[trans-lunar injection]] or 44,000&nbsp;kg to [[Mars]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scitech.people.com.cn/GB/14054670.html|title=梁小虹委员：我国重型运载火箭正着手立项 与美俄同步|website=scitech.people.com.cn|access-date=June 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728134540/http://scitech.people.com.cn/GB/14054670.html|archive-date=July 28, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="spacenewsJuly18">{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com//world/china/china-aims-to-outstrip-nasa-with-super-powerful-rocket/articleshow/64829693.cms?|title=China reveals details for super-heavy-lift Long March 9 and reusable Long March 8 rockets|date=5 July 2018|access-date=7 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801122726/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com//world/china/china-aims-to-outstrip-nasa-with-super-powerful-rocket/articleshow/64829693.cms|archive-date=August 1, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Its first flight is expected by 2028 or 2029 in preparation for a lunar landing sometime in the 2030s;<ref name="ars-20210224">{{cite web|last=Berger|first=Eric |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/02/china-officially-plans-to-move-ahead-with-super-heavy-long-march-9-rocket/ |title=China officially plans to move ahead with super-heavy Long March 9 rocket |publisher=Ars Technica|date=24 February 2021|access-date=1 March 2021}}</ref> a sample return mission from Mars has been proposed as first major mission.<ref name="spacenewsJuly18"/> It has been stated that around 70% of the hardware and components needed for a test flight are currently undergoing testing, with the first engine test to occur by the end of 2018. The 2011 proposed design would be a three-staged rocket, with the initial core having a diameter of 10 meters and use a cluster of four engines. Multiple variants of the rocket have been proposed, CZ-9 being the largest with four liquid-fuel boosters with the aforementioned LEO payload capacity of 140,000&nbsp;kg, CZ-9A having just two boosters and a LEO payload capacity of 100,000&nbsp;kg, and finally CZ-9B having just the core stage and a LEO payload capacity of 50,000&nbsp;kg.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.popsci.com/china-aims-for-humanitys-return-to-moon-in-2030s|title=China Aims for Humanity's Return to the Moon in the 2030s|website=popsci.com|date=2016-05-05|access-date=2018-07-14|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508225643/https://www.popsci.com/china-aims-for-humanitys-return-to-moon-in-2030s|archive-date=2016-05-08}}</ref> Approved in 2021, the Long March 9 is classified as a [[super heavy-lift launch vehicle]].<ref name="ars-20210224"/> A very different design of LM-9 was announced in June 2021, with more engines and no external boosters.<ref>[https://www.thespacereview.com/article/4347/1 ''Red Heaven: China sets its sights on the stars (part 1)'']</ref> Payload capacities are 160 tonnes to LEO and 53 tonnes to TLI.<ref>{{cite web|date=2022-04-25|title=China National Space Day|url=https://kevinjamesng.com/2022/04/25/cnsa-chinanationalspaceadministration-%E5%9B%BD%E5%AE%B6%E8%88%AA%E5%A4%A9%E5%B1%80-beltandroadinitiative-apirl2022%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD%E5%A4%A9%E6%96%87%E6%97%A5-chinaspaceday-%E9%95%BF/|access-date=2022-04-27|website=kevinjamesng.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=2022-04-27|title=10 more engines!The Long March 9 rocket has a new configuration, which is thicker and taller and can be reused|url=https://inf.news/en/military/5249f3bc1a4f016c8781df63714ee5e3.html|access-date=2022-04-27|website=inf.news}}</ref>