This will be the maiden flight of the Long March 5, which is China's next-generation heavy-lift space launch system, comparable in performance to the European Ariane 5 and the U.S. Delta IV Heavy. The rocket is powered by RP-1 and Hydrogen, and will be able to place 25 tonnes into low earth orbit. It is carrying Shijian-17, an experimental satellite, reportedly tasked with testing ion propulsion systems for future space station keeping uses.