China Plans Long March 10 Moon Rocket

China is planning to launch its super heavy-lift Long March 10 rocket next year, marking a major step in the country’s crewed lunar exploration programme, according to SpaceNews.

The Long March 10 is being developed specifically to support China’s ambition to send astronauts to the Moon. 

The rocket will be produced in two variants. The primary version is a three-stage super heavy-lift rocket designed to carry the Mengzhou crewed spacecraft, along with a lunar lander, on missions to the Moon.

A second version, known as Long March 10A, will feature a two-stage design with partial reusability and will be used to launch Mengzhou spacecraft into low Earth orbit and to China’s Tiangong space station.

SpaceNews previously reported that China successfully conducted a test launch of the Long March 10’s first stage in September. In October, China’s state news agency Xinhua confirmed that Beijing remains on track to land Chinese astronauts on the Moon by 2030.

The rocket programme is part of a broader international effort, as China and Russia continue to cooperate on lunar exploration.

The two countries are jointly developing an International Lunar Research Station, a network of remotely operated scientific facilities planned for the Moon’s surface. A Russian law approving the agreement with China was signed last June, and the project is expected to be completed by 2028.

Under the joint roadmap, China plans to send the Chang’e-6, Chang’e-7 and Chang’e-8 missions to the Moon, while Russia is expected to launch several spacecraft to lunar orbit and conduct surface exploration missions. The Long March 10 rocket is expected to play a central role in advancing China’s long-term presence on the Moon and strengthening its position as a leading global space power.