China's Space Program Thread II

[by78]

An update on i-Space/Interstellar Glory's rocket assembly plant in Hainan. The facility is expected to achieve initial operational status in April.

Some interior images of i-Space/Interstellar Glory's rocket assembly plant in Hainan. The facility can accommodate the assembly and testing of three rockets simultaneously.

 

[CVNisCV]

Lunar module test

 

[by78]

The latest official update on the manned lunar landing project:
– Everything is proceeding smoothly and as planned. The Long March 10 launch vehicle, the Mengzhou spacecraft, Lanyue lander, manned rover, spacesuit are all in prototype and testing phase.
– Compatibility testing of Long March 10's electrical system has been completed.
– High-altitude drop test of Mengzhou spacecraft has been completed.
– Thermal tolerance testing of the Lanyue lunar lander has been completed.
– Tests to be completed in the future include zero-altitude and high-altitude escape system tests for the Mengzhou spacecraft, landing and takeoff tests for the Lanyue lander, and tethered ignition test and low-altitude test flight of the Long March 10 rocket.

In a milestone development, China has successfully conducted landing and takeoff verification tests of the Lanyue manned lunar lander.

 

[2=GT]

Landing simulation test

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[nativechicken]

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[Deino]

High resolution image of the lander

 

[by78]

A few more high-resolution images from the tests of the manned lunar lander.

 

[taxiya]

Lanyue descent and ascent test is the biggist news for me in years. I suspect that the 2027 maiden launch of CZ-10 is going to be a mock landing, two launches one for lander and another for crew module, doing a full process of landing and return. If everything is smooth, another mock landing within half year, or a third mock landing within one year if something need to be updated. That gives me late 2028 or early 2029 for boots on the moon.

 

[REautomaton]

The CZ-5 has begun its transport operations, with SatNet still confirmed as the payload—though rumors suggest some of the satellites this time are noticeably heavier than previous batches.

 

[AndrewJ]

I suspect that the 2027 maiden launch of CZ-10 is going to be a mock landing, two launches one for lander and another for crew module, doing a full process of landing and return.

In an CCTV interview around Zhuhai Airshow last November, an expert from CALT said:

First launch of CZ-10A is planned in 2026, and its first launch & recovery test is at the end of 2026. Via a delicate net-tethered hanging recovery approach, we improve the rocket's carrying efficiency. R&D is processed smoothly by now. This schedule will support following lunar missions from 2027 to 2030.

CCTV interview:

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According to this latest CCTV interview (which was recorded for 2024 Zhuhai Airshow), CZ-10 series' maiden flight will be its variant w/o boosters, i.e. CZ-10A. There're at least two CZ-10A launches planned in 2026, one is its maiden flight, another one is its first recovery.

So we may see CZ-10A ready to launch & recovery for LEO satellite missions (similar to SpaceX F9 for starlink), before its brother CZ-10 ready for lunar missions?