Rocket Specifications and Mission Plan
The Long March 10 is actually a family of super heavy-lift rockets under development by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology. The standard version designed for lunar missions uses a three-stage configuration with a core and two boosters, all powered by a common engine type that burns kerosene and liquid oxygen. A separate upper stage uses hydrogen fuel for the final push toward the Moon. Variants of the rocket exist: the Long March 10B has been tested for reusability, while the crewed version, simply called the Long March 10, will be expendable for lunar missions. For missions to low Earth orbit, variants omit the boosters and upper stage and are designed for reusability through vertical landing on a floating platform.
According to current plans, the rocket will launch from the Wenchang site. The first uncrewed test flight is planned for 2027, a critical milestone that will provide the first public demonstration of the vehicle’s capabilities. China has not released detailed schedules beyond the 2027 test flight and the 2030 crewed landing goal. The mission plan calls for two astronauts to reach the lunar surface for a short stay. A successful crewed landing by 2030 would make China only the second nation to put astronauts on the lunar surface.
Parallel Tracks: China and the Artemis Program
The timeline places China in direct competition with NASA’s Artemis program, which aims for a crewed lunar landing by 2025 or later. The Artemis timeline has slipped repeatedly; the first crewed lunar landing is now expected no earlier than 2025, and further delays are possible. NASA’s Artemis program uses the Space Launch System rocket. The Long March 10 is a different class of vehicle from the rockets used for China’s earlier lunar missions, such as the Chang’e probes. The 27-metric-ton payload to trans-lunar injection is a key figure that defines the rocket’s capability.
The competition between the two programs is not just about national prestige. Both nations are interested in the Moon’s resources, particularly water ice at the poles, which could be used for fuel and life support. This competition could accelerate the pace of lunar science, resource utilization, and either international cooperation or rivalry in deep space. For now, the Long March 10 remains a paper rocket with some hardware in testing. The 2027 flight will show whether the design works as intended.
A Legacy of Robotic Exploration
China’s pursuit of crewed lunar missions builds on two decades of robotic exploration through the Chang’e program, named after the Chinese moon goddess. The program began with orbiters that mapped the lunar surface. Chang’e 3 delivered the first Chinese lander and rover to the Moon in 2013. Chang’e 4 achieved the first ever landing on the far side of the Moon in 2019. The most recent milestone was Chang’e 5, which returned lunar samples to Earth in December 2020, demonstrating the ability to return material from another celestial body for the first time in decades. These steps laid the technical foundation for a human-rated launch vehicle capable of reaching the Moon.
The Wenchang launch site will be the focus of activity as the Long March 10 moves toward its first flight. The 2027 uncrewed test flight will be a crucial demonstration. China has not announced a specific date for its first crewed lunar landing beyond the 2030 target. As both nations press forward, the Moon is once again becoming a destination for human exploration, and the Long March 10 represents China’s entry into a new era of space exploration alongside the United States.
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