The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), a subsidiary of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), has successfully completed a separation test for the payload fairing of the Long March 10 rocket. This fairing, which protects spacecraft during launch, is a critical component in China's upcoming space endeavors.
The test assessed the fairing's design, structural connections, separation mechanisms, and interior capacity, confirming its reliability and contributing to further evaluations of its strength and payload compatibility. While specific details regarding the test's location and timing remain undisclosed, CALT noted that the fairing's diameter is an impressive 5 meters, representing a newly developed model.
The Long March 10 is set to play a significant role in China's aspirations for crewed lunar exploration. This rocket family will include a baseline model designed specifically for moon landings, which is nearing its maiden flight.
Standing at 92.5 meters tall—equivalent to a 32-story building—the Long March 10 features a central booster complemented by multiple side boosters. With a liftoff weight of 2,189 metric tons and a thrust of 2,678 tons, it is capable of transporting spacecraft weighing at least 27 tons to the Earth-moon transfer trajectory.
The rocket will be powered by the advanced YF-100K engines, representing a new generation of propulsion technology essential for China's ambitious lunar program.
China's strategy for manned lunar missions involves two Long March 10 launches from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province. These launches aim to deploy a landing module and a manned spacecraft into lunar orbit, where the two modules will dock, allowing astronauts to transfer to the landing module. Subsequently, two crew members will descend to the lunar surface utilizing engine-assisted soft landing technology.