China plans to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030, utilizing a two-launch mission architecture. The strategy involves two Long March 10 rockets: one to deploy the lunar lander and another to transport the crewed spacecraft into lunar orbit.
Upon reaching orbit, the two craft will dock. Two of the three crew members will transfer to the lander to descend to the surface for scientific tasks, while the third remains in the orbiter. The lander will then return to orbit to dock with the main ship for the journey back to Earth.
Wang Xiang, deputy chief designer of China's crewed space program, outlined the mission at the 7th Manned Spaceflight Conference in Beijing. The plan includes three uncrewed technology verification flights between 2028 and 2030, all launching from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site.
For surface operations, astronauts will utilize a specialized spacesuit unveiled in September 2024. The suit is engineered to provide protection against vacuum, extreme temperatures, lunar dust, and radiation, while supporting mobility, vehicle operation, and scientific research.
