China's Long March 10A rocket is poised for its inaugural flight in 2026, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s ambition to land astronauts on the Moon. The rocket model will be revealed at the Zhuhai Airshow, commencing on November 12, as reported by Science and Technology Daily.
The Long March 10A measures 67.4 meters in length and 5.0 meters in diameter. It will serve to launch a next-generation crew spacecraft to the Tiangong space station in low Earth orbit, with a payload capacity of 14,200 kilograms during recovery of its first stage. For cargo missions, the rocket's length will be adjusted to 66.4 meters.
This launch is a precursor to the more powerful Long March 10, currently under development. This three-core variant, measuring 92 meters, is designed to transport 27 tons to trans-lunar orbit and will be essential for China's lunar exploration plans, targeting a crewed Moon landing by 2030.
The planned lunar mission involves two Long March 10 rockets: one will carry the crewed Mengzhou spacecraft, while the other will deploy the lunar lander, Lanyue. The two will rendezvous in lunar orbit, allowing two astronauts to spend six hours on the lunar surface before rejoining their colleague in orbit and returning to Earth.
In comparison, NASA's Artemis III mission aims for a lunar landing no earlier than 2026, though it faces potential delays. The Long March 10 is being developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), which successfully conducted a static fire test of the first stage in June.
At the Zhuhai Airshow, models of the Long March 9, intended for launching lunar infrastructure, will also be showcased. This rocket has evolved from an expendable design to include reusable configurations, with a targeted first launch around 2030.
Additionally, a modified Long March 8 rocket is expected to have its first flight later this year from a new commercial spaceport, as part of China's strategy to enhance its launch capabilities.