China is accelerating its space program with a bold objective: to send astronauts to the Moon before 2030 using a new carrier rocket and a modular manned spacecraft. The rocket project is named Long March-10, and insiders anticipate a first flight as early as 2027. This plan underscores China’s commitment to expanding its capabilities in deep space exploration and establishing a sustained presence beyond low Earth orbit.
Long March-10 is engineered to deliver spacecraft and lunar landers into Earth-Moon transfer trajectories. It relies on a combination of liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen, and kerosene as its propellants. The vehicle stretches to about 92 meters in length, carries a takeoff weight near 2,187 tonnes, and can generate thrust around 2,678 tonnes at liftoff. Its payload capacity for the Earth-Moon transfer region is targeted at no less than 27 tonnes, marking a significant upgrade over earlier generations and expanding the mission envelope for lunar exploration missions.
Rong Yi, a veteran rocket expert associated with the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, points to distinctive features of Long March-10. He emphasizes the adoption of non-toxic liquid oxygen and kerosene as core propellants, a choice that aligns with the program’s safety and environmental goals. The rocket’s architecture includes a central body with a five-meter diameter and a booster of equal diameter, a design that contributes to a markedly increased payload capacity for Earth-Moon transfers relative to the Long March-5 lineage. This enhancement supports more ambitious lunar mission profiles and logistics payloads for surface operations.
In parallel with the carrier rocket, a modular manned spacecraft is under development. This vehicle is designed as a versatile stack comprising an escape tower, a return capsule, and a service module. The modular configuration is intended to support both near-Earth missions and more distant lunar and deep-space ventures, providing flexibility for future crewed programs. When astronauts reach the Moon, a dedicated lunar lander is expected to ferry them from the transfer point to the lunar surface. This integrated approach reflects a strategic push to advance China’s capabilities in human spaceflight and to position the nation as a major participant in sustained lunar exploration and in-stature missions beyond the Earth–Moon system.
The ongoing work on Long March-10 and the modular spacecraft signals a broader national effort to build a robust space exploration framework. This framework aims to enable regular cargo and crew transportation to lunar vicinity, support long-duration surface operations, and foster technology transfer that benefits other space science and commercial endeavors. The plan illustrates how China intends to translate ambitious space ambitions into operational milestones, reinforcing its role in shaping the next era of lunar exploration and international collaboration in deep-space research.
Citation: International observers note that the project aligns with long-term national goals in space exploration and technology development. Details provided reflect announced program directions and expert commentary on propulsion choices, payload capacity, and mission architecture. Researchers and industry analysts continue to monitor developments as the program progresses toward a series of demonstration flights and eventual crewed lunar missions.