From space station to the moon: China advances manned spaceflight 13.04.2026

China is making significant strides in its lunar exploration and manned spaceflight ambitions, with the Chang'e-7 lunar probe arriving at the Wenchang Space Launch Site for a planned liftoff in the latter half of 2026. This mission aims to test advanced lunar landing and mobility technologies, including a legged rover and surface hopping, with a focus on exploring permanently shadowed craters at the moon's south pole and fostering international scientific collaboration. These efforts build upon decades of experience from China's manned space program and previous Chang'e missions, integrating unmanned and manned lunar exploration. Furthermore, recent successful tests of the Long March-10 carrier rocket and Mengzhou spacecraft in February mark crucial progress towards China's goal of a crewed lunar landing by 2030, which is intended to initiate a new era of space exploration, including the establishment of the International Lunar Research Station.



















