On the 31st January 2026, 1201 Hours Hong- Kong SAR – Beijing time CNSA –China National Space Administration , China, People’s Republic of China . …. At 12:01 PM Beijing time on January 31st , 2026, China successfully launched the Algeria Remote Sensing Satellite-3B into orbit using a Long March-2C carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The launch mission was a complete success. This satellite will primarily be used for land planning and disaster prevention and mitigation. This mission marked the 629TH flight of the Long March series carrier rockets.
The Long March 2C rocket used in this mission is a two-stage configuration. This mission marks the second launch of the Algeria Remote Sensing Satellite by the Long March 2C rocket within 16 days. The Algeria Remote Sensing Satellite System project represents another collaboration between China and Algeria in the aerospace field, following the delivery of the Algeria-1 communications satellite. (Aerospace Science and Technology… )
[ Long March 2C Rocket Successfully Launches Algeria’s Remote Sensing Satellite-3B ]
At 12:01 PM on January 31, the Long March 2C carrier rocket ignited and lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, successfully sending the Algeria Remote Sensing Satellite-3B into its predetermined orbit. The launch mission was a complete success. The satellite, developed by the Fifth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), is primarily used for land planning and disaster prevention and mitigation. The Long March 2C rocket was developed by the First Academy of CASC. This mission marks the second launch of the Algeria Remote Sensing Satellite-3 by the Long March 2C rocket within 16 days. The Algeria Remote Sensing Satellite System project represents another collaboration between China and Algeria in the aerospace field, following the delivery of the Algeria-1 communications satellite. CASC Great Wall Industry Corporation is the general contractor.
This launch was the 629th launch of the Long March series of carrier rockets
Beijing Zhongke Aerospace Exploration Technology Co., Ltd. is the first domestic aerospace enterprise with mixed ownership, and it is also the target enterprise that Oriental Aerospace Port focuses on introducing. Relying on the scientific research strength and resource advantages of the Institute of Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Aerospace Flight Technology Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Aerospace Science and Technology has been committed to the research and development and integration of space technology and aerospace vehicles as a platform for the transformation of major national scientific research projects, as well as the transformation and provision of technological achievements. Aerospace launch service. The Lijian-1 rocket project also adds a brand-new name card to the Oriental Space Port, which will surely promote the construction of the Oriental Space Port to take a solid step forward.
On January 12th, the Lihong- 1 Y1 spacecraft, carrying a recoverable microgravity metal additive manufacturing scientific experiment payload independently developed by the Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, successfully completed a metal additive manufacturing experiment in space. Following the mission’s complete success, the payload was safely recovered and a delivery ceremony was held at the Institute of Mechanics on January 22nd. The return capsule of the Lihong-1 Y1 suborbital spacecraft was opened today, and its microgravity laser additive manufacturing (space metal 3D printing) payload was delivered. During its maiden flight, the Lihong-1 spacecraft climbed to an altitude of approximately 120 kilometers …
Lihong-1 Completes First Suborbital Flight Test
Mission a Complete Success, Recoverable Payload Module Lands Smoothly… At 16:00 on January 12, 2026, the Lihong-1 Y1 spacecraft from CAS Space Technology successfully completed its suborbital flight test mission at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China. The recoverable payload module successfully landed and was recovered via parachute. The maiden flight carried a microgravity laser additive manufacturing recoverable scientific experimental payload and aerospace radiation-induced mutation rose seeds. This flight test successfully verified the re-entry, atmospheric return, deceleration, and recovery of the recoverable payload module. Simultaneously, it verified the precise landing point control technology for the spacecraft’s sub-stage return, achieving a landing point accuracy of hundreds of meters at a distance of 100 kilometers. This marks the transition of space manufacturing from the “concept verification” stage to the “engineering verification” stage, laying a solid technical foundation for the near future realization of space manufacturing, space experiments, space medicine, and space tourism.
The Lihong-1 (PH-1) maiden flight test spacecraft reached an altitude of approximately 120 kilometers, crossing the Kármán line into space. This spacecraft boasts a series of outstanding advantages, including low launch cost, high flexibility, and support for experimental payload recovery. Primarily designed for applications such as microgravity science experiments and near-space in-situ exploration, it provides scientific experimental payloads with a highly stable, reliable, and versatile experimental environment for over 300 seconds.
This flight test mission primarily verified the high-reliability parachute aerodynamic deceleration technology for the reentry payload capsule and the precise landing point control technology for the spacecraft’s sub-stage return. Specific achievements are as follows:
1. The Lihong-1 reentry payload capsule employed parachute recovery technology. The entire return process involved atmospheric reentry, followed by atmospheric deceleration to subsonic speeds, and then further deceleration using parachutes to ensure the payload capsule’s landing speed met mission requirements. To achieve the high-reliability parachute aerodynamic deceleration technology for the reentry payload capsule, breakthroughs were achieved in high-precision recovery trajectory prediction technology for the parachute deceleration system, refined aerodynamic and dynamic integrated analysis technology for the wide-speed-range parachute system, and reliability modeling and comprehensive performance evaluation technology for the parachute deceleration system. This technology can provide preliminary technical verification for the company’s subsequent Lihong-2 reusable spacecraft’s cluster parachute recovery technology and accumulate valuable experimental data for the reliable deceleration and recovery of manned spacecraft for space tourism.
2. The Lihong-1 flight carried out verification of the precise landing point control technology for the return of the spacecraft’s sub-stage. This technology is one of the core key technologies for achieving vertical return and reusability of rocket sub-stages. Under complex reentry force, thermal environment constraints, and high-dimensional landing terminal constraints, an online real-time trajectory guidance optimization algorithm was used to achieve precise landing point control of the spacecraft’s sub-stage return. The verification results, including the high-precision multi-model real-time trajectory optimization method for strongly nonlinear landing problems, the robust autonomous optimal guidance method for complex disturbances and deviations, and the soft-hard coupling design of the autonomous optimal guidance algorithm and a new high-computing-power onboard guidance computer, can be directly applied to orbital rockets, thus enabling breakthroughs in reusable launch vehicle technology at a lower cost .
On the day January 2026 of Hong Kong SAR- Beijing Time 25 th November 2025 CNSA –China National Space Administration, China, People’s Republic of China Shenzhou20 Taikonaut Crew…. The CPC Central Committee, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission have decided to award the Spaceflight Medal of Honor to Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie] Chen Dong First Class Space flight Medal Chen Dong is the 3️⃣th Chinese Takionaut to receive the “First Class Spaceflight Medal” (for completing three manned spaceflight missions). The first two astronauts to receive this Honor were Jing Haipeng (December 26, 2016/Shenzhou 7, 9, 11) and Nie Haisheng (November 23, 2021/Shenzhou 7, 10, 12). Above the “First Class Spaceflight Medal” is the “Special Class Spaceflight Medal,” currently the only recipient of which is Jing Haipeng …
(April 2024/Shenzhou 7, 9, 11, 16), who has completed four spaceflights. So, who will be the next recipient? Probably Chen Dong again~
长征十号Long March 10 series rockets used for manned lunar landing and other missions successfully completed the test of the first-stage rocket power system. During the test, the engine started normally, worked stably, shut down at a fixed time, and all parameters were tested normally. This test is the first system-level large-scale ground test of the Long March 10 series of launch vehicles. The matching of the first-stage booster delivery system and the engine, the propellant filling process, the multi-machine parallel power transmission and environmental characteristics and other technologies were fully verified.
Long March 10 rocket is a three-and-a-half-stage rocket developed for the manned lunar exploration project. The total length of the rocket is 92.5 meters, the takeoff weight is about 2,189 tons, the takeoff thrust is about 2,678 tons, and the Earth-Moon transfer orbit carrying capacity is not less than 27 tons. In the future, it will be used to launch a new generation of manned spacecraft and lunar landers. In addition, the Long March 10 has also designed another booster-free configuration that can perform space station astronaut and cargo transportation tasks….
The engine is the power source of the rocket, and its development process is very complicated. Test run is an important link in the engine development process, and there are dozens of types. In layman’s terms, engine test run is the process of igniting the engine and verifying the rationality of its design scheme and process reliability. This is an indispensable and important part of the development and delivery of a type 1 engine. It will run through all stages before and after engine development. Each stage of test run has different meanings, and the ignition time varies from a few seconds to hundreds of seconds.
It is reported that the engine used in this test run uses advanced liquid oxygen kerosene as fuel, which is improved and iterated from the high-thrust liquid oxygen kerosene engine used by the new generation of launch vehicles such as the Long March 5. The thrust reaches 130 tons. The R&D team of the Sixth Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology Group adheres to the concept of digital design, and has successively overcome key technical problems such as engine start-up and shutdown sequence, engine wide-range continuously variable thrust, and engine long life and high reliability.
In addition, the continuous success of the test run has fully verified the reliability of a number of new carrying process technologies. The engine production of this test run adopts the concept of intelligent manufacturing, and actively applies new materials, new processes, and new technologies. The inner wall of the thrust chamber of the core component adopts a new protective coating, key assemblies adopt automatic welding technology, and a large number of components adopt 3D printing technology.
The Long March 10 series carrier rockets are a new generation of manned carrier rockets developed by the First Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation for manned lunar exploration missions. The tethered fire tests of the Long March 10 series of launch vehicles were conducted in a step-by-step, phased approach, focusing on two objectives: performance verification of the seven-engine, parallel-stage engine power system, and verification of recovery and reuse. These tests aimed to capture the true payload environment characteristics of the seven-engine, parallel-stage system and verify the recovery procedures. These tests were a key measure to mitigate risks associated with the maiden flight.
The grid fins and recovery hook on the top of a Long March 10 test rocket are clearly visible, while the bottom appears to have leading-edge fins (correction: it should be external piping), giving a glimpse of the future of marine net-system recovery…
Comparing the Long March 10A and the Long March 10 series stationary rocket (modified from
a CZ-10A) to a scaled-down CZ-10A makes the difference quite clear. The “Long March 10 stationary rocket + top counterweight” currently erected in Wenchang for the Mengzhou MaxQ escape test is exactly the same length as the first stage of the CZ-10A (the grid fin positions even match). It’s speculated that a fake second stage may be added later to simulate full-scale flight.
I. Core Tasks and Latest Developments
The Long March 10 (codename CZ-10), the core launch vehicle for China’s manned lunar landing program, has recently completed several key tests, accelerating the verification of the manned lunar landing system .
Tethered ignition test : Two tests were completed in Wenchang in August and September 2025, successfully verifying the stability of seven YF-100K engines working in parallel (130 tons thrust per engine), and breaking through the performance of low-condition operation, secondary ignition start-up and thermal protection materials.
Escape test preparation : In January 2026, a Long March 10 test rocket body with a top counterweight was found at the Wenchang 301 launch site. It is intended to be used for the maximum dynamic pressure escape test of the Mengzhou spacecraft to simulate the astronauts’ escape ability under extreme flight conditions. @ChinaAirlines…43240
Low-altitude flight test : planned for 2026, to verify the attitude control and landing accuracy of the rocket recovery stage, laying the foundation for reusability.@Zhang Yan of Houen Investment…55
Derivative Model First Flight Countdown
Long March 10A (CZ-10A) : Dedicated configuration for low Earth orbit, reusable first stage, with a payload capacity of ≥14 tons. Its maiden flight is planned for 2026, carrying out the docking mission of the Mengzhou-1 unmanned spacecraft with the space station. The launch window is tentatively set for February 11 (unofficially confirmed).@Kaldarwalich143639
Long March 10B (CZ-10B) : A commercial launch model with a reusable first-stage liquid oxygen-methane engine. It is planned to make its maiden flight in April 2026 and attempt to recover the rocket using a network system on a sea platform
II. Technological Breakthroughs and Design Innovation
Recyclable technology route
The net-based recovery system employs a patented design with telescopic damping rods and hook mechanisms to cushion the impact of a rocket’s tilted landing, making it suitable for recovery from offshore platforms. Supporting equipment has entered mass production, with companies such as Taisheng Wind Power participating in the supply. @Vony7153146
Engine reliability : The YF-100K engine passed the 320-second long-duration ignition test and passed the 15 repeated ignition verifications, providing support for reuse.twenty three67
Performance parameters international benchmarking
Comparison of Chinese and American rockets : The Long March 10 has a lunar transfer orbit payload capacity of 27 tons, comparable to the American SLS Block 1 (26 tons); however, the SLS’s takeoff thrust (3752 tons) is significantly higher than that of the Long March 10 (2678 tons).8
Modular design : This has led to the development of lunar landing version (CZ-10), space station cargo version (CZ-10A), and commercial version (CZ-10B), enabling flexible adaptation to missions
III. Strategic Background and Project Milestones
The goal of landing on the moon by 2030 is clear.
Mission architecture : The mission will employ a “two-launch, lunar docking” model. First, the Long March 10 rocket will launch the lunar lander into lunar orbit, followed by the launch of the Mengzhou spacecraft for docking, after which the astronauts will transfer to the lander to land on the moon.@CCTVNews3061
Timeline : The lunar-landing version of the rocket is planned for its maiden flight in 2027, the manned spacecraft will be launched in 2028, and Chinese people will land on the moon before 2030. @People’s Daily4954
Supporting systems work together to advance
Launch site construction : Three lightning protection towers at launch site 301 in Wenchang have been completed, and the fourth is nearing completion. The final assembly plant is nearly 100 meters high, housing facilities for the Long March 5 and Long March 7 rockets, supporting tests of rocket bodies up to 100 meters in length.21238
Takionaut Training : 28 active-duty astronauts completed a 6-day closed-loop survival training in the Wulong Karst Cave in Chongqing, simulating the extreme environment of the moon
IV. Industry Impact and Market Attention
Commercial Spaceflight Boom
The rocket race is heating up : More than 10 new rockets are planned to make their maiden flights in China in 2026, with the national Long March 10B competing with private rockets such as the Zhuque-3 and Tianlong-3 for breakthroughs in reusable technology. 47566075
Satellite networking is driving the development of China’s StarNet and Qianfan constellations, which require tens of thousands of low-Earth orbit satellites, thus necessitating high-frequency rocket launches. The Hainan launch site is expanding with four launch pads, increasing its annual launch capacity to over 60 launches.@StockMarketAngela76
Capital Market Linkage
Concept stocks in focus : Aerospace Power (engines), Chaojie Shares (structural components), and Western Materials (titanium alloys) are attracting attention, while the stock prices of companies that recycle patents through the Internet system are fluctuating.
V. Little-known facts: Engineering details and humanistic perspectives
AI-simulated scenario : The First Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology released an AI rendering of the Long March 10 rocket standing at its Wenchang launch site, showing that the rocket may adopt an inclined support design. 1244
The names are deeply meaningful : the “Dream Boat” spacecraft embodies the dream of carrying people into the universe, while the “Moon Lander” is derived from the poem “able to ascend to the ninth heaven and reach for the moon”, continuing the lineage of Chinese culture.3670
On CNSA –China National Space Administration …. ChangZheng Long March 12 flight rocket …. At Hainan Commercial Space Launch Center. Wenchang, Hainan Province, China, People’s Republic of China …. At 15:48 on January 19, 2026, the Long March 12 Y5 carrier rocket was launched from the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site, successfully sending 19 satellites for the satellite internet network into their predetermined orbits. The launch mission was a complete success. This launch was the 628th launch of the Long March series carrier rockets.
The satellite internet constellation is the China Satellite Network (SatNet) constellation (abbreviated as “SatNet” or “Guowang”). The 19th low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite group comprises nine LEO communication satellites, independently developed by the commercial satellite company GalaxySpace (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd. This group of satellites carries several core technology products independently developed by GalaxySpace, including phased array antennas, millimeter-wave antennas, integrated electronics, and energy systems.
This mission marks the second batch launch of China’s StarNet low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites in 2026, and the 19th batch launch of the constellation’s LEO satellites in total. This brings the total number of LEO satellites launched by China’s StarNet to 154, with 18 launched in 2026.
The Long March 12 is a medium-lift cryogenic liquid-fueled launch vehicle developed by the Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. It employs a two-stage tandem configuration and uses liquid oxygen and kerosene propellants, primarily for low and medium Earth orbit (LEO) launch missions. The rocket is nearly 62 meters tall (with a 5.2-meter diameter fairing), with a body diameter of 3.8 meters. It can be equipped with either a 5.2-meter or 4.2-meter diameter fairing. Its liftoff mass is 433 tons, and its liftoff thrust is approximately 510 tons. The rocket has a payload capacity of at least 12 tons to LEO and at least 6 tons to a 700-kilometer Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO) altitude. This particular rocket uses a 5.2-meter diameter fairing.
In this mission, the project team optimized the structure and sections of the rocket, including the onboard cable network and transition compartment, achieving a 10% weight reduction while maintaining performance and strength, thus further enhancing the rocket’s carrying capacity. Simultaneously, the Long March 12 rocket team continuously optimized the work and testing items in the technical and launch areas, shortening the launch cycle. They also optimized the number of overall inspection and testing items at the launch site, reducing the launch cycle by four days and further improving testing and launch efficiency.
This mission marks the first launch of the Long March 12 carrier rocket in 2026, the second launch from the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site, the seventh launch for China, and the 16th launch worldwide. It also represents the fifth launch of the Long March 12 carrier rocket and the 628th launch of the Long March series of carrier rockets.
