China aims to land astronauts on the Moon before 2030, according to plans presented by Wang Xiang, chief designer of the country’s lunar exploration program. Wang outlined the approach at the 7th Manned Space Symposium in Beijing last weekend, according to Xinhua and reports by Ars Technica and SpaceNews.
The mission would use two Long March 10 rockets. One would carry the Lanyue lunar lander into lunar orbit, while the other would launch the Mengzhou crew spacecraft. After the two vehicles meet and dock, two of the three crew members would transfer to Lanyue and travel to the lunar surface. They would later return to Mengzhou.
Wang said the approach fits China’s existing technical capabilities and infrastructure. Developing the crew spacecraft and lander separately could also support standardized production, Xinhua reported. The plan includes uncrewed test flights of the vehicles in the coming years.
The United States is also pursuing a crewed lunar landing through NASA’s Artemis program. Artemis 3 is scheduled for 2027, with NASA’s first crewed Moon landing under the program planned for 2028. The source notes that spaceflight schedules can change.
China’s program is difficult to assess from outside. Xinhua has described development of the rocket, spacecraft and lander as progressing smoothly, while the program has also faced setbacks, including the explosion of a Long March 7A rocket shortly after launch in August.
NASA deputy administrator Amit Kshatriya has argued that it is essential for the West to win the lunar race. In an interview with Der Spiegel, he warned that if China reaches the Moon first, it may not share its findings or cooperate on common standards, potentially limiting the West’s influence over future rules for space exploration.
Sources: Der Spiegel.