China outlines plan for crewed Moon landing before 2030

China lunar program Mengzhou spacecraft Lanyue lander Long March-10 manned spaceflight

China has unveiled a detailed roadmap to land astronauts on the Moon before 2030, according to officials at the Seventh Manned Spaceflight Symposium in Beijing. The mission architecture, presented by Wang Xiang, the deputy chief designer of China’s manned space program, will utilize a lunar-orbit rendezvous strategy similar to the Apollo program.

Due to current launch vehicle capabilities, the mission will involve two separate launches using Long March-10 rockets. One rocket will deliver the Lanyue lunar lander to lunar orbit, while a second will carry the Mengzhou crew spacecraft containing three astronauts. Once in orbit, the vehicles will dock, allowing two crew members to descend to the lunar surface for scientific research while the third remains in orbit.

The timeline includes several uncrewed test phases. The Mengzhou spacecraft is expected to undergo testing via transport missions to the Tiangong space station. Uncrewed tests for the Mengzhou and Lanyue vehicles are scheduled for 2027, with a demonstration mission for the lander planned for 2028. A full-scale crewed mission is targeted for 2029 or before 2030.

Entities

Artemis Program · China · China National Space Administration · Ellen Ellis · Johnson Space Center · Lanyue · Long March-10 · Mengzhou · Moon · NASA · Ross Elder · Wang Xiang

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] The mission will involve a crew of three astronauts. www.porta3.mk · tezzbuzz.com · www.leonarddavid.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Two astronauts will land on the Moon while one remains in lunar orbit. www.porta3.mk · tezzbuzz.com · www.leonarddavid.com
[● 8 SOURCES] The mission uses the Lanyue lunar lander and the Mengzhou crew spacecraft. www.dialessandria.it · space24.pl · tech.wp.pl · www.porta3.mk · tezzbuzz.com · +3 more
[○ 1 SOURCE] A 26-ton lander mockup underwent simulated lunar gravity tests in August 2025. tech.wp.pl
[● 2 SOURCES] The Mengzhou and Lanyue vehicles are scheduled for separate tests in 2027. tech.wp.pl · science.slashdot.org
[● 8 SOURCES] The mission architecture relies on two Long March-10 rockets and orbital rendezvous. www.porta3.mk · www.dialessandria.it · space24.pl · tech.wp.pl · tezzbuzz.com · +3 more
[● 3 SOURCES] The Mengzhou spacecraft will be tested via transport missions to the Tiangong space station. space24.pl · tech.wp.pl · science.slashdot.org
[● 9 SOURCES] China plans to launch its first crewed mission to the Moon before 2030. www.porta3.mk · www.dialessandria.it · space24.pl · news.yam.md · tech.wp.pl · +4 more