China unveils 2026 manned spaceflight plan with new reusable spacecraft and rocket
China's manned space program has announced its mission roadmap for 2026, including the debut of the Mengzhou‑1 reusable spacecraft and the Long March 10A rocket. These developments mark a major step toward the country's goal of achieving a crewed lunar landing by 2030.
According to the plan, the Tianzhou‑10 cargo spacecraft will dock with the rear port of the space station's core module. The Shenzhou‑23 and Shenzhou‑24 crewed spacecraft will dock at the radial and forward ports, respectively. The Mengzhou‑1, an unmanned test version of China's next‑generation spacecraft, will dock at the radial port while equipped with an escape tower for safety during launch.
Mengzhou is designed with a modular structure consisting of a return capsule and a service module. It is intended for both near‑Earth station operations and future lunar exploration. The lunar variant, known as Mengzhou‑Y, will be used for crewed missions to the Moon.
The Long March 10 series will serve as the launch vehicle for these missions. The Long March 10A, a sub‑stage reusable rocket, will carry out the Mengzhou‑1 test flight in 2026. The larger Long March 10, with a three‑stage configuration and two boosters, will be used for subsequent crewed lunar missions.
Officials confirmed that by 2030, China aims to complete crewed lunar landings, short‑term surface stays, joint exploration, and missions involving "landing, patrol, mining, research, and return." These efforts are intended to establish independent lunar exploration capabilities.
China's manned space program is overseen by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), established in 1992 under the China National Space Administration. CMSA is responsible for the Shenzhou spacecraft, the Tiangong space station, and future lunar exploration missions. The agency has successfully carried out multiple crewed flights, spacewalks, and cargo deliveries, positioning China as one of the world's leading spacefaring nations. Its upcoming Mengzhou spacecraft and Long March 10 rockets represent the next generation of technology designed to expand human presence beyond Earth orbit.
