China Crewed Lunar Rocket Test Signals Leap in Space Capabilities
The China Crewed Lunar Test has marked a major advancement in the country’s ambitions to land astronauts on the Moon. Space technology experts describe the successful demonstration of the Long March-10 heavy-lift rocket and the next-generation Mengzhou spacecraft as a decisive step forward in China’s crewed lunar program.
The tests were conducted at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan Province and included a low-altitude demonstration flight of the Long March-10 rocket along with a maximum dynamic pressure abort test of the Mengzhou crewed spacecraft.
First Ignition Flight and Max Q Milestone
The China Crewed Lunar Rocket Test featured the first ignition flight of the Long March-10 rocket. During ascent, the spacecraft successfully powered through Max Q — the phase of flight when aerodynamic forces are at their strongest and risk is highest.
Both the rocket’s first stage and Mengzhou’s return capsule safely landed in their designated recovery zones, demonstrating critical recovery and reusability capabilities.
Sea Landing and Reusability Breakthrough
A key highlight of the China Crewed Lunar Rocket Test was the first sea landing and retrieval of the Mengzhou return capsule. The capsule, designed primarily for lunar missions but also adaptable for space station operations, is built for multiple reuses.
Wang Zhifei of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation described the soft splashdown and sea recovery as a crucial breakthrough in reusable carrier rocket technology, noting it will accelerate advancements in China’s launch systems.
Foundation for Future Lunar Landings
Officials say the China Crewed Lunar Rocket Test lays the groundwork for completing verification flights necessary for eventual lunar landings. Infrastructure and launch systems at Wenchang are progressing as scheduled, with expectations that full testing and launch capabilities for the crewed lunar program could be achieved by year’s end.
Zhou Jianping, chief designer of China’s manned space program, emphasized the significance of the successful retrieval technologies, calling it a “leapfrog development” achieved on the first attempt.
The milestone strengthens China’s push toward sending astronauts to the Moon before 2030 and positions the Long March-10 and Mengzhou systems as central pillars of that mission.
