Long March 10
 1:10 scale model of the Long March 10 at the National Museum of China | |
| Function | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology |
| Country of origin | China |
| Size | |
| Height | 92.5 m (303 ft)[1] |
| Diameter | 5 m (16 ft 5 in) |
| Mass | 2,189,000 kg (4,826,000 lb)[1] |
| Stages | 2 or 3 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO (-10) | |
| Mass | 70,000 kg (150,000 lb) |
| Payload to LEO (-10A) | |
| Mass | 14,000 kg (31,000 lb) |
| Payload to TLI (-10) | |
| Mass | 27,000 kg (60,000 lb) |
| Associated rockets | |
| Family | Long March |
| Derivative work | Long March 10B |
| Comparable | |
| Launch history | |
| Status | In development |
| Launch sites | Wenchang, LC‑301 |
| Total launches | 1 (first stage only) |
| Success(es) | 1 |
| Carries passengers or cargo | Mengzhou, Lanyue |
| Boosters (-10 only) | |
| No. boosters | 2 |
| Propellant mass | 520,000 kg (1,150,000 lb) |
| Powered by | 7 × YF-100K |
| Maximum thrust | SL: 8,750 kN (1,970,000 lbf) vac: 9,772 kN (2,197,000 lbf) |
| Total thrust | SL: 17,500 kN (3,900,000 lbf) vac: 19,544 kN (4,394,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | SL: 301.6 s (2.958 km/s) vac: 337 s (3.30 km/s) |
| Burn time | 173 seconds[2] |
| Propellant | RP-1 / LOX |
| First stage | |
| Propellant mass | 680,000 kg (1,500,000 lb) |
| Powered by | 7 × YF-100K |
| Maximum thrust | SL: 8,750 kN (1,970,000 lbf) vac: 9,772 kN (2,197,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | SL: 301.6 s (2.958 km/s) vac: 337 s (3.30 km/s) |
| Burn time | 227 seconds[2] |
| Propellant | RP-1 / LOX |
| Second stage | |
| Propellant mass | 185,000 kg (408,000 lb) |
| Powered by | 2 × YF-100M |
| Maximum thrust | 2,920 kN (660,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 352.3 s (3.455 km/s) |
| Burn time | 215 seconds[2] |
| Propellant | RP-1 / LOX |
| Third stage (-10 only) | |
| Propellant mass | 59,000 kg (130,000 lb) |
| Powered by | 3 × YF-75E |
| Maximum thrust | 276.3 kN (62,100 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 451.1 s (4.424 km/s) |
| Burn time | 924 seconds[2] |
| Propellant | LH2 / LOX |
Long March 10 (LM-10; Chinese: 长征十号; pinyin: Chángzhēng Shíhào) or Changzheng 10 (CZ-10)[a] is a family of three rockets under development by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology for crewed lunar missions, flights to the Tiangong space station, and commercial launches.
The standard Long March 10 is a three-stage super heavy-lift rocket with a core and two boosters of a common design: a five-meter-wide kerolox-fuelled stage powered by seven YF-100K engines. It is designed to launch a single Mengzhou crewed orbiter or Lanyue lander, with a trans-lunar injection (TLI) burn from its hydrolox third stage of three YF-75E engines. It has a payload capacity of 70 tonnes (150,000 lb) to low Earth orbit (LEO) and at least 27 tonnes (60,000 lb) to TLI.
The Long March 10A and Long March 10B are medium-lift variants, omitting the boosters and third stage; their first stage is designed for recovery and reuse via vertical landing on a floating platform. The CZ-10A is designed for crew and cargo transport to Tiangong, superseding the Long March 2F and Long March 7 respectively, with a capacity of at least 14 tonnes (31,000 lb) to LEO. The CZ-10B is a commercial launch variant of the Long March 10A, with a methalox second stage, increasing its LEO capacity to at least 16 tonnes (35,000 lb).
In February 2026, a CZ-10 first stage booster launched from Wenchang Space Launch Site and performed a controlled splashdown 200 metres (660 ft) from its landing platform in the South China Sea. In July, the maiden CZ-10B launch achieved orbit and a first stage platform landing. The CZ-10A maiden orbital flight, carrying Mengzhou 1, is planned for late 2026; crewed lunar missions are planned culminating in a landing by 2030, after which the much larger Long March 9 is planned to replace it in the super-heavy lift role.
Overview
[edit]The Long March 10[3] is planned to be a human-rated super heavy launch vehicle designed to launch China's Mengzhou crewed lunar spacecraft and its future Lanyue crewed lunar lander, as part of its crewed space program, codenamed Project 921. Its notional debut was at the 12th China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in November 2018, where it was announced that the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) is developing a vehicle with a lunar orbit capacity of about 30 tonnes (66,000 lb), meeting the requirements for crewed lunar exploration.[4] Documents and presentations in subsequent years depicted modified Long March 5 configurations known as CZ-5DY (pinyin abbreviation for 'Deng Yue' 登月 or 'lunar landing'), CZ-5G, and CZ-5H.[5]
In February 2023, at the "30 Years of China's Manned Spaceflight" exhibition held at the National Museum of China, a model of the next-generation crew launch vehicle was labeled as "Long March 10." An article later published by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation also used the term "Long March 10" to refer to the rocket.[3][4]
Standard configuration
[edit]The standard variant of the vehicle consists of two boosters, first, second and third stage cores, escape tower, and fairing. All stages and the boosters have a diameter of 5 metres (16 ft 5 in) The first-stage core and the two boosters each are equipped with seven YF-100K engines (for a total of 21 operational engines at liftoff). The second-stage is equipped with two YF-100M engines. The third-stage is equipped with three YF-75E engines.[5][4][6] The vehicle's total length is approximately 90 metres (300 ft), with a liftoff weight of 2,187 tonnes (4,822,000 lb). The diameter of its core stage is the same as that of the Long March 5, but its height is about one-third taller.
The rocket has a payload capacity of 70 tonnes (150,000 lb) to low Earth orbit and at least 27 tonnes (60,000 lb) to a trans-lunar injection trajectory.[7] The proposed crewed lunar mission would use two Long March 10s; the crewed spacecraft and the lunar landing stack would launch separately and subsequently rendezvous in lunar orbit, prior to a crewed lunar landing attempt.[8] The development of the rocket along with relatively detailed specifications were announced at the 2020 China Space Conference.[7]
Long March 10A variant
[edit]The Long March 10A is a single stick variant (no boosters) with only two stages; it has seven YF-100K engines on the first stage and a single YF-100M engine on the second stage, This variant is designed for low Earth orbit crew and cargo flights; it is part of the Chinese space program's plan to increase lift capacity, explore reusability, and phase out hypergolic propellants for its rocket fleet. The 10A will have a capability to low Earth orbit of at least 14 tonnes (31,000 lb) when the first stage is recovered and at least 18 tonnes (40,000 lb) when used in a completely expendable arrangement;[9] it will use kerosene as fuel and liquid oxygen as the oxidizer. The rocket's first stage will have restartable engines and grid fins to enable reuse after stage recovery; first stage landing and recovery will employ "tethered landing devices" in lieu of landing legs; this tethered system involves the deployment of "hooks" by the stage which would be caught by a tensioned wire system on the ground.[9] The first flight of the 10A is expected in 2026 with the test of China's Lanyue lunar lander.[10]
Long March 10B variant
[edit]In December 2025, it was reported on Chinese social media that a representative from the commercial arm of CALT (Chinarocket Co., Ltd.) presented plans for a commercial variant of the Long March 10A during the Wenchang International Aviation and Aerospace Forum 2025. This new variant, the Long March 10B, will have a payload capacity of at least 16 tonnes (35,000 lb), likely in a reusable mode, to a 200-kilometre (120 mi) low Earth orbit, and at least 11 tonnes (24,000 lb) to a 900-kilometre (560 mi) orbit at 50 degrees orbital inclination.[11]
The CZ-10B was first launched on 10 July 2026; the mission was successful. This launch also marked the first time that China successfully recovered a first-stage booster during an orbital mission.[12]
Long March 10C variant
[edit]In July 2026, after the debut launch of the CZ-10B and the successful recovery of that rocket's first-stage, officials from Chinese space-sector confirmed that a "workhorse" commercial variant of the CZ-10 series will be developed. This new variant, the Long March 10C, will have a larger (methalox) first-stage than the first-stage of the CZ-10A/B while using the same second-stage as the CZ-10B; it will be an all-methalox launcher using the YF-219 engines for both stages. It likely willl have a payload capacity in excess of 25 tonnes (55,000 lb) to LEO, exceeding that of the CZ-5B.[13]
History
[edit]Precursor design
[edit]An old proposal from 1992 for China's "project 921" envisioned the adoption of a modular design for a new generation of human-rated launch vehicles that would allow various payload combinations ranging from 11 to 70 tonnes (24,000 to 154,000 lb) to low Earth orbit. One such combination would have allowed China to pursue its own crewed lunar exploration program, including lunar orbit, circumlunar, and lunar landing missions. This proposal was not adopted.[14] However, elements of this old proposal appear to have survived in the current Long March 10 designs.
Proposal and development
[edit]The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) began preliminary research into a next-generation crew launch vehicle in 2017.[4] That year, the first-stage YF-100K engine completed its first test firing.[4] During 2018, CASC carried out three test firings of the YF-100M second-stage engine and displayed a model of the vehicle at the 12th Zhuhai Airshow.[4]
In 2019, CASC reported the development of a 5-metre-diameter conical propellant tank structure with a claimed 15% reduction in weight and later announced completion of a 5-metre liquid oxygen-kerosene tank.[4] A project titled 5-metre Diameter Module of the Next-Generation Crew Launch Vehicle – Overall Technology and Engineering Application passed an acceptance review organised by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).[4] In 2020, a full-scale structural prototype of the thrust-transfer structure for the seven-engine first stage completed static load testing.[4]
Testing of propulsion systems accelerated in 2022. CASC conducted the first long-duration ignition test and subsequent high-altitude testing of the YF-75E third-stage engine, while the YF-100M second-stage engine completed a series of firings using a titanium-alloy nozzle extension.[15][4] By October 2022, cumulative testing of the YF-75E had exceeded 10,000 seconds.[4] Later that year, the YF-100K first-stage engine completed a series of ignition and endurance tests intended to support reusable launch vehicle operations.[4]
In February 2023, an exhibition at the National Museum of China revealed that the vehicle had been officially named Long March 10.[4] During the year, testing continued on key components including the rocket's oxygen-delivery system, grid fins, and YF-100K engines.[4][16] On 29 May 2023, CMSA announced the start of the crewed lunar landing phase of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program, with Long March 10 designated as the programme's primary launch vehicle.[17]
In April 2024, CMSA stated that development of the hardware required for China's crewed lunar programme, including the Long March 10, had largely been completed and that engine testing was continuing.[18] Construction of launch facilities for the vehicle was also underway near the existing Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan.[18] In June 2024, CASC conducted the first large-scale propulsion-system test of the vehicle, using three YF-100K engines operating simultaneously.[19][20] A fairing-separation test followed in November 2024, and later that month the YF-100K completed its first orbital mission when four engines powered the maiden flight of the Long March 12.[21][22]
During 2025, development entered an integrated testing phase. Structural qualification testing began in July,[23] followed by a seven-engine static-fire test in August using a shortened first-stage test article at the under-construction Launch Complex 301 at Wenchang.[24][25] A second hot-fire test took place in September and included multiple engine restarts intended to simulate launch, re-entry, and landing operations for a reusable first stage.[26] In October, CMSA announced that the first orbital flight of the Mengzhou spacecraft was planned for 2026.[27]
The programme's first flight test occurred on 11 February 2026, when a Long March 10A test stage carrying a Mengzhou crew module was launched on a suborbital mission to evaluate the spacecraft's launch escape system under conditions of maximum dynamic pressure.[28][29] Following separation of the crew module, the booster continued a test profile intended to simulate first-stage recovery operations, including attitude-control manoeuvres, engine relights, powered deceleration, and a controlled descent.[30] The stage ultimately splashed down approximately 200 metres from its recovery vessel after a flight lasting about 470 seconds.[28][30]
The Long March 10B made its maiden flight from Launch Complex 2 at the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site on July 10 2026. During the mission, the rocket's first stage was successfully recovered using a sea-based net platform, and the launch mission was completed successfully. The mission marked China's first successful controlled recovery of an orbital launch vehicle first stage and the world's first successful net recovery.[31]
Launches
[edit]CZ-10 and CZ-10A
[edit]| Flight | Version | Launch (UTC) | Payload | Orbit | Launch site | Outcome | Booster recovery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | CZ‑10A | 11 February 2026, 03:00 | Mengzhou abort capsule | Suborbital | Wenchang, LC‑301 | Success | Controlled (South China Sea) |
| First launch of the Long March 10 series. Mengzhou capsule performed an in flight abort at max q, with the first stage continuing to space, reaching an altitude of 105 km (65 mi) before performing a successful splashdown in the South China Sea. | |||||||
| 10A‑Y1 | CZ-10A | September 2026 | Mengzhou 1 | LEO (CSS) | Wenchang, LC‑301 | Planned | TBA |
| First orbital flight of CZ-10/CZ-10A.[32] Uncrewed Mengzhou test flight to low Earth orbit and the Tiangong space station (CSS). | |||||||
| 10‑Y1 | CZ-10 | 2027 | Mengzhou | TLI | Wenchang, LC‑301 | Planned | TBA |
| Uncrewed Mengzhou test flight to the Moon.[33] | |||||||
| 10‑Y2 | CZ-10 | 2028 | Lanyue | TLI | Wenchang, LC‑301 | Planned | TBA |
| The Lanyue will complete lunar orbit docking with Y3's crewed Mengzhou and conduct a lunar landing dress rehearsal. | |||||||
| 10‑Y3 | CZ-10 | 2028 | Mengzhou | TLI | Wenchang, LC‑301 | Planned | TBA |
| The Mengzhou will complete lunar orbit docking with Y2's Lanyue lander.[33] | |||||||
| 10‑Y4 | CZ-10 | 2029 | Lanyue | TLI | Wenchang, LC‑301 | Planned | TBA |
| The Lanyue will complete lunar orbit docking with Y5's crewed Mengzhou and conduct a crewed lunar landing.[33] | |||||||
| 10‑Y5 | CZ-10 | 2029 | Mengzhou | TLI | Wenchang, LC‑301 | Planned | TBA |
| The Mengzhou will complete lunar orbit docking with Y4's Lanyue lander.[33] | |||||||
See also
[edit]
- China National Space Administration – National space agency of the People's Republic of China
- List of Long March launches (2025-2029)
- Comparison of orbital launchers families
- Comparison of orbital launch systems
- Space program of China
Notes
[edit]- ↑ Also known as the "Next Generation crewed launch vehicle" (Chinese: 新一代载人运载火箭; pinyin: Xīnyīdài Zàirén Yùnzàihuǒjiàn), and previously and unofficially as the "921 rocket" (Chinese: 921火箭; pinyin: 921-huǒjiàn). The nickname "921" refers to 21 September 1992, the founding date of China's human spaceflight programme. It has also been referred to as the Long March 5G/5H/5DY, reflecting its origins as a development of the Long March 5.
References
[edit]- 1 2 "我国新一代载人运载火箭长征十号完成一子级火箭动力系统试车". 中国载人航天工程官方网站. 14 June 2024. Archived from the original on 16 June 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- 1 2 3 4 王聪; 王劲博; 宋征宇 (2023). "登月火箭剩余运载能力估计与停泊轨道重规划". 宇航学报. 44 (9): 1323.
- 1 2 汪淼 (24 February 2023). "我国新一代载人运载火箭命名为"长征十号", 将用于登月任务" (in Simplified Chinese). IT之家. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 中国航天科技集团. "2030年前实现载人登月!速览火箭飞船研制进展". 微信公众号. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- 1 2 Jones, Andrew (11 November 2022). "China's huge new crew-launching moon rocket could fly for 1st time in 2027". Space.com. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
- ↑ Jones, Andrew (17 December 2021). "China's new rocket for crewed moon missions to launch around 2026". SpaceNews. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- 1 2 Jones, Andrew (1 October 2020). "China is building a new rocket to fly its astronauts on the Moon". SPACE.com.
- ↑ Jones, Andrew (30 October 2020). "China outlines architecture for future crewed moon landings". SpaceNews.
- 1 2 Jones, Andrew (6 March 2022). "China wants its new rocket for astronaut launches to be reusable". Space.com. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- ↑ Jones, Andrew (30 October 2025). "China targets 2026 for first Long March 10 launch, new lunar crew spacecraft flight". SpaceNews. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
- ↑ Jones, Andrew (31 December 2025). "China to debut reusable Long March 10-derived rocket in first half of 2026". SpaceNews. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
- ↑ 顾, 天成; 陈, 凯姿 (10 July 2026). "长征十号乙首飞成功 我国运载火箭首次实现可控回收". Xinhuanet.com. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
- ↑ Jones, Andrew (13 July 2026). "China lines up methalox Long March 10C as commercial workhorse after first booster recovery". SpaceNews. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
- ↑ Wade, Mark (2019). "Project 921".
- ↑ "我国新一代载人火箭二级发动机取得重大突破". 央视网 (in Chinese). 27 October 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
- ↑ 长十火箭栅格舵展开试验成功!
- ↑ "神舟十六号载人飞行任务新闻发布会召开". 中国载人航天官方网站. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- 1 2 Jones, Andrew (24 April 2024). "China on track for crewed moon landing by 2030, space official says". SpaceNews. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ↑ Ling, Xin (15 June 2024). "China's Long March-10 rocket enters 'fast lane' in quest to put astronauts on the moon". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ↑ CALT (14 June 2024). "The first-stage power system test of the Long March 10 series launch vehicle was successful". WeChat (in Chinese). Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ↑ Jones, Andrew (20 November 2024). "China performs fairing separation test for crewed moon mission rocket". SpaceNews. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ↑ Jones, Andrew (30 November 2024). "China launches first Long March 12 from new commercial spaceport in boost for country's lunar plans". spacenews.com. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
- ↑ Jones, Andrew (18 July 2025). "China conducts structural tests for Long March 10 human spaceflight rocket". SpaceNews. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ↑ Jones, Andrew (15 August 2025). "China conducts first seven-engine static fire test for moon rocket". SpaceNews. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
- ↑ "不起飞的"点火发射"怎么做到的?长征十号系列火箭需闯"四道关"". chinadaily.com. 16 August 2025. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
- ↑ Jones, Andrew (12 September 2025). "China completes second hot-fire test for new moon rocket, including engine restarts". SpaceNews. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
- ↑ Jones, Andrew (30 October 2025). "China targets 2026 for first Long March 10 launch, new lunar crew spacecraft flight". spacenews.com. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
- 1 2 李, 国利; 刘, 艺 (11 February 2026). "长征十号低空演示验证与梦舟飞船最大动压逃逸飞行试验成功实施". XINHUAnet.com. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
- ↑ Jones, Andrew (11 February 2026). "China tests crewed spacecraft abort and rocket recovery in major lunar milestone". spacenews.com. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
- 1 2 "Re: Mengzhou Max-Q Abort Test & CZ10A Low Altitude Test -WSLC- 11 Feb 2026 03:00 UTC; Reply #68". nasaspaceflight.com. 11 February 2026. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
- ↑ "China successfully tests sea-based rocket booster recovery system, state media says". Reuters. Beijing. 10 July 2026. Archived from the original on 10 July 2026. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
- ↑ Jones, Andrew (30 October 2025). "China targets 2026 for first Long March 10 launch, new lunar crew spacecraft flight". SpaceNews. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Marín, Daniel (19 April 2025). "Misiones CZ-10 Y4 e Y5: el primer alunizaje tripulado chino - Eureka". Eureka (in European Spanish). Archived from the original on 13 May 2025. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
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