China Develops Tech for Lunar Mission

China is accelerating preparations for its first crewed lunar landing, with key mission components now in advanced stages of development and testing, according to Lin Xiqiang, Deputy Director of the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

At a press conference on Wednesday, Lin confirmed that major elements of the mission—including the Long March-10 rocket, Mengzhou crewed spacecraft, Lanyue lunar lander, Wangyu lunar spacesuit, and Tansuo lunar rover—are all undergoing prototype research and testing as scheduled.

The mission, part of China’s long-term lunar exploration initiative, aims to place astronauts on the Moon by 2030. Once achieved, the crew is expected to conduct scientific research and collect samples for further analysis back on Earth.

This mission marks a pivotal phase in China’s lunar program, known as Chang’e, which began in 2007 with the launch of Chang’e-1.

That first satellite mission helped map the Moon’s surface and provided critical data, including the first Chinese-generated lunar heat map.

The upcoming crewed mission underscores China’s growing ambitions in space exploration, positioning it as a major player in the new era of lunar science and interplanetary missions.