China has made significant strides in its space exploration ambitions, successfully testing its new Long March-10 rocket and the Mengzhou spacecraft on February 11, 2026. This achievement marks a crucial step towards the nation’s goal of establishing a lunar outpost that could rival NASA’s Artemis Program. The tests were conducted at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan Province.
The test featured a low-altitude demonstration of the Long March-10 rocket combined with an in-flight abort test of the crew-capable Mengzhou spacecraft. This marked the first ignition flight of the Long March-10, which is designed to handle crewed lunar missions. During the ascent, the rocket navigated through the challenging maximum dynamic pressure phase, a critical moment when aerodynamic stress is at its peak as the vehicle transitions from the dense lower atmosphere to the thinner upper atmosphere.
Both components of the test were successful. The Mengzhou spacecraft demonstrated its safety system by separating from the rocket, ensuring that the crew capsule could effectively detach in an emergency. The Long March-10’s first stage also performed as planned, landing safely in the designated recovery area.
Ji Qiming, spokesperson for the China Manned Spaceflight Agency (CMSA), described the Long March-10 as a next-generation, partially reusable launch system. The rocket can operate in two configurations: the standard model features three stages and two strap-on boosters, while the 10A variant consists of two stages without boosters. The propulsion system uses seven liquid oxygen and kerosene engines working in parallel.
The Mengzhou spacecraft, which translates to “Dream Vessel,” is designed to accommodate six to seven taikonauts. Following its separation from the rocket, the Long March-10 continued its ascent until it reached a predetermined altitude and speed, at which point its engines were shut down. The rocket then transitioned into a glide phase, altering its orientation multiple times to prepare for landing.
At approximately 110 kilometers (68 miles) altitude, the rocket deployed its grid fins for landing preparation. After reigniting two engines for powered deceleration, it relied on aerodynamic control through its grid fins before reigniting three engines for the final descent. The rocket successfully splashed down in the ocean, where recovery crews were able to retrieve it.
Zhu Pingping of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation noted that this successful test brings China closer to its ambition of landing astronauts on the Moon by 2030. He emphasized the broader significance of these developments, which include plans for further missions to deep space, such as Mars.
In addition to lunar aspirations, China is expanding its capabilities with the ongoing development of the Tiangong space station and plans for robotic missions to explore a Near Earth Asteroid and a Main Belt comet. As the nation advances its space program, it is poised to play a leading role in future international space exploration efforts.
