China successfully launches its largest carrier rocket

China has successfully launched its largest carrier rocket, the Long March-5, in south China on Thursday night.

According to CRI Online, the launch of the rocket marks a new step forward under China's space plans, which include probes on the Moon and Mars, as well as building its own manned space station.

China's newly-developed heavy-lift carrier rocket Long March-5 blasts off from Wenchang Space Launch center in south China's Hainan province, Nov. 3, 2016. Photo:Xinhua

The rocket is 50 percent larger than other members in the Long March rocket family, while its carrying capacity is 2.5 times of those of others.

The rocket arrived at the Wenchang launch center in south China's Hainan Province in September for final assembly and testing.

According to the report of Space.com, the main goal of today's flight was to test the rocket, which consists of two stages and stands 187 feet (57 meters) tall. The Long March 5 is capable of lofting 27.6 tons (25 metric tons) to low-Earth orbit (LEO) and 15.4 tons (14 metric tons) to the more distant geostationary transfer orbit, according to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp.

China's newly-developed heavy-lift carrier rocket Long March-5 blasts off from Wenchang Space Launch center in south China's Hainan province, Nov. 3, 2016. Photo: Xinhua

The rocket is therefore nearly as powerful as United Launch Alliance's Delta IV Heavy launcher, the brawniest rocket operating today. (But some heftier rockets are coming online soon. For example, SpaceX's Falcon Heavy, which is expected to fly for the first time early next year, will be capable of sending 60 tons to LEO, company representatives have said.)

The Long March 5 is a crucial piece of China's ambitious space plans. For instance, the rocket will launch the big modules that make up China's 60-ton space station, which the nation hopes to have up and running by 2022.

China's largest and most powerful new rocket the Long March 5 is shown to public on Nov.23, 2015 at the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center in south China's Hainan province. Photo:Aihangtian.com

China's space plans after the Long March-5:

2017:

• Launch a cargo spaceship

• Start the Chang'e-5 moon probe

2018:

• Land a lunar probe on the far side or the dark side of the moon

2020:

-Launch a Mars probe

-Build a manned space station

(APD)