China launched a large new large - rise Eruca sativa yesterday , a major step in its seek to ship commission to the Moon and Mars as well as build   a fully - fledged space station in Earth orbit .

The Long March 5 rocket engine blast off from the Wenchang Space Launch Center   on Hainan Island at 8.43pm local time ( 8.43am EDT , 12.43pm GMT ) yesterday . At 57 meter ( 187 feet ) magniloquent , and with a lifting capableness of 25 metric tonnes ( 27.6 US short ton ) to Earth compass , it is one of the magnanimous rockets in operation today .

What the rocket ’s payload was is n’t completely cleared , with most composition saying it carried anexperimental spacecraftcalled Shijian 17 into orbit , which will test out ion propulsion technologies .

The main purpose of the launching , though , was simply to essay that the skyrocket work . It is about 2.5 times as powerful as China ’s subsist Long March fleet of vehicles , and can take 14 metric tonnes ( 15.4 US tons ) to a more distant geostationary orbit .

" The Long March 5 ’s freight electrical capacity is about 2.5 times bigger than other major Taiwanese skyrocket , " said Li Dong , chief designer of the Long March 5 at the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology in Beijing , reportedChina Daily .   " The bigger size of it is not just a simple elaboration , actually it represents tremendous breakthroughs in terms of design , examination and fabrication capableness . "

This will be important for China ’s approaching goals . At the moment , two Chinese cosmonaut ( cognise as Taikonauts ) are halfway through a month - long halt on the small experimental space stationTiangong-2 . By 2022 , however , China hopes to launch the first part of a much great place place , Tiangong-3 , which will eventually be about one - seventh the size of the ISS .

With its high lifting potentiality , the Long March 5 will also be an essential part of China ’s maraud beyond Earth orbit . Next year , the agency is hoping to launch its Chang’e 5 lunar satellite , lander , and rover , which will be carried to the Moon by this young rocket . And , in 2020 , China hopes to launch its first Mars investigation – although particular are few and far between at the moment .

For now , the Long March 5 is 2d only to the US Delta IV Heavy garden rocket , which can lift 28.8 metric tonnes ( 31.7 US tons ) to Earth compass . Both will be dwarfed by SpaceX ’s Falcon Heavy rocket , bear to found next year with a lifting potentiality of 54.5 metric tonnes ( 60 US rafts ) .

It ’s an important milestone for China , though , as it continues to blaze its own itinerary in space travel alongside the more experienced role player .