China’s Eyes 2026 For Long March 10A Moon Rocket Debut Flight

China is gearing up for a crucial milestone in its lunar exploration program, with the first flight of the Long March 10A rocket scheduled for 2026. The debut of this rocket marks an essential step in China’s ambitious goal of sending astronauts to the moon by 2030.

A model of the Long March 10A will be showcased at the upcoming Zhuhai Airshow in southern China, which opens on November 12, as reported on November 5 by Science and Technology Daily, an official publication of the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology.

Specifications and Capabilities of Long March 10A

The Long March 10A is a 67.4-meter-long, 5.0-meter-diameter single-core rocket specifically designed to transport crew.

This new generation of crewed launch vehicles will be capable of carrying payloads up to 14,200 kilograms to low Earth orbit (LEO) when configured for first-stage recovery. In missions focused on delivering cargo to China’s Tiangong space station, the rocket will measure slightly shorter, at 66.4 meters.

The Long March 10A’s maiden launch is anticipated as a proving ground for China's wider lunar objectives.

A larger, three-core version of the rocket, known simply as the Long March 10, is being developed as the foundation for China’s lunar crewed missions. Standing 92 meters tall, this variant is expected to carry payloads of 27 tons into trans-lunar orbit. The three-core rocket configuration presents China with new engineering challenges, including managing a rocket of unprecedented scale, complex aerodynamics, engine alignment and synchronization, and developing recovery and reuse mechanisms.

The development is being led by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) under the primary contractor China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). Progress is underway; in June, CALT successfully conducted a static fire test of a Long March 10A first-stage test article, marking a significant development milestone.

Path to the Moon

The lunar mission architecture for China involves two launches using the Long March 10. The first rocket will carry a crewed spacecraft named Mengzhou, and the second will deliver a lunar lander stack known as Lanyue.

After both launches, the spacecraft and lander will rendezvous in lunar orbit, allowing astronauts to transfer to the lander for a surface mission. The mission plan includes a six-hour lunar surface stay for a pair of astronauts, who will later return to lunar orbit, rejoin their colleague, and make their way back to Earth.

The Evolving Long March 9 for Deep-Space Missions

The Zhuhai Airshow will also display a model of the Long March 9, a heavy-lift rocket destined for China’s future space infrastructure and moon-bound missions.

Originally conceived as a 10-meter-diameter, kerosene-fueled rocket with four 5.0-meter-diameter side boosters, the Long March 9 has undergone design evolution toward reusability, moving from an expendable to a methane-fueled, Starship-like design. The latest models include a reusable upper stage, similar to SpaceX’s Starship.

The designs, however, continue to vary. In 2023, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) displayed an expendable version of the Long March 9 at the International Astronautical Congress in Azerbaijan, while China’s Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL) has outlined a phased path from partial to full reusability for the rocket.

Veteran Long March designer Long Lehao has presented plans for a 10.6-meter-diameter Long March 9 powered by 30 YF-215 engines, with a targeted inaugural launch date around 2030. The rocket is intended to launch modules and components for the International Lunar Research Station, which China aims to start building in the early 2030s.

Long March 8 and Expanding China’s Launch Capabilities

China’s growing space ambitions are also reflected in developments closer to Earth. A modified Long March 8 rocket is expected to make its first flight from a new commercial spaceport near the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center later this year.

The commercial launch pads and rockets like the Long March 8 reflect China’s efforts to increase launch frequency and support a burgeoning commercial space industry.

The Zhuhai Airshow will provide a unique look at China’s next-generation rockets and its broader strategy for establishing a long-term presence on the moon. With the Long March 10 series, China is laying the groundwork for lunar exploration while evolving its heavy-lift capabilities through the Long March 9 and expanded launch infrastructure, underscoring the nation’s commitment to becoming a major spacefaring power.