China successfully conducts key flight test for manned lunar mission
By Zhao Lei |
chinadaily.com.cn |
Updated: 2026-02-11 11:08
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China conducted a significant flight test on Wednesday of a new rocket and spacecraft designed for the nation's manned lunar exploration missions.
A prototype of the Mengzhou spacecraft was mounted atop a prototype first-stage booster of the Long March 10 heavy-lift rocket, which blasted off at 11 am from the Wenchang Space Launch Center, a coastal spaceport in Hainan province, and soon soared into the sky.
After a brief flight, the booster reached a critical point known as Max-Q, a challenging and risky moment during a rocket's ascent when aerodynamic forces are at their strongest. At that point, the Mengzhou return capsule separated from the booster and was immediately pulled away by the escape rocket mounted on top of it.
