China achieved dual milestones in its space program this week as the Long March-10 carrier rocket completed a low-altitude verification test while the Mengzhou spacecraft demonstrated critical emergency escape capabilities. The synchronized tests mark significant progress toward the nation's goal of landing astronauts on the Moon before 2030.
During the February 12 demonstration, the Mengzhou spacecraft executed a textbook escape maneuver 45 seconds after liftoff under maximum dynamic pressure conditions – the most aerodynamically stressful phase of ascent. Meanwhile, the Long March-10's first stage performed a controlled return, splashing down in the South China Sea 470 seconds after launch. This recovery test advances reusable rocket technology crucial for cost-effective lunar missions.
"These achievements lay solid technical foundations for our next-generation crewed spacecraft and heavy-lift launch vehicle," stated a spokesperson from the China Manned Space Agency. The Long March-10, designed to carry 27 tons to lunar transfer orbit, represents a threefold increase over China's current Long March-5 capabilities.
