On June 25, 2016 at 12:00 UTC the Chang Zheng-7 (Long March-7) rocket-carrier was launched from Wenchang Satellite Launch Center (WSLC), located in Wenchang on Hainan Island off China’s southern coastline.

The new Long March 7 rocket, developed to become a workhorse for a planned Chinese space station and the country’s clandestine military space program, flew into orbit on its inaugural flight from a launch base on Hainan Island in the South China Sea. The “Long March-7” is the most powerful rocket ever built in China, with capacity to place nearly 13.5 tons — into low Earth orbit. A sub-scale capsule for a next-generation crew spaceship also flew on Saturday’s launch for an atmospheric re-entry test, kicking off development of a spacecraft to replace China’s Shenzhou crew transport.