HELSINKI — China’s Long March 10A rocket is set to have its first flight in 2026, in what will be a crucial step in the country’s efforts to get astronauts on the moon.
A model of the Long March 10A, a single-core rocket for launching crew, is set to be unveiled at the Zhuhai Airshow in southern China, due to open Nov. 12. The rocket is set to have its debut launch in 2026, according to a Nov. 5 report from Science and Technology Daily, an official Chinese ministry newspaper.
The 67.4-meter-long, 5.0-meter-diameter Long March 10A will be used to launch a new generation crew spacecraft to the Tiangong space station in low Earth orbit. It will be capable of lifting 14,200 kilograms to LEO when recovering the first stage. The rocket will be 66.4-meters-long when used to launch cargo missions to Tiangong.
The debut launch of the Long March 10A will be a key step for larger ambitions. A three-core Long March 10 is in development as a crucial pillar in China’s plans to put astronauts on the moon before 2030. The Long March 10 lunar variant will be 92 meters long and be able to launch 27 tons into trans-lunar orbit.