BEIJING -- The Long March 8A carrier rocket, designed to serve as China's future primary launch vehicle for medium- and low-Earth orbit missions, is scheduled to conduct its maiden flight in January next year, according to its developer China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT).

The Long March 8A was successfully loaded onto a ship on Monday and began its journey to the Wenchang Space Launch Site in South China's Hainan province.

"The Long March 8A is an upgraded version of the Long March 8 rocket, specifically developed to meet the launch requirements of large-scale constellation networks in medium- and low-Earth orbits," said Song Zhengyu, chief designer of the Long March 8 rocket from the CALT.

He added that the Long March 8A features advanced performance, low cost, high reliability and rapid launch capability.

The Long March 8A, developed over a period of 28 months, has completed 44 major ground tests to date and overcome several key technological challenges, said Xiao Yun, chief commander of the Long March 8 from the CALT. "We are confident and capable of successfully accomplishing this launch mission."