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. The
On CNSA –China National Space Administration …. Wenchang, Hainan Province, China, People’s Republic of China At 1500 Beijing time on 11 February 2026 , Long March 10 Carrier Rocket System Low-Altitude Demonstration and Verification and Mengzhou Manned Spacecraft System Maximum Dynamic Pressure Escape Flight Test Successfully Conducted… On February 11, 2026, Beijing time, China successfully conducted a low-altitude demonstration and verification of the Long March 10 carrier rocket system and a maximum dynamic pressure escape flight test of the Mengzhou manned spacecraft system at the Wenchang Space Launch Site. This test is another developmental flight test following the Long March 10 carrier rocket tethered ignition, the Mengzhou manned spacecraft zero-altitude escape flight, and the lunar lander landing and takeoff integrated verification tests, marking a significant breakthrough in China’s manned lunar exploration program. Rocket Recovery.
This test featured many highlights, including a new rocket model, a new spacecraft model, a new launch pad, and a new mission for the sea recovery of the rocket and spacecraft. Both the rocket and spacecraft involved in the test were in their prototype state. The rocket adopted a core-stage single-stage configuration and underwent two tethered ignition tests in the preliminary stage; the spacecraft’s return capsule underwent a zero-altitude escape flight test in the preliminary stage. To conduct this test, all relevant test products underwent adaptive modifications according to reusable requirements and procedures. The Wenchang Space Launch Site overcame various difficulties by adopting a strategy of simultaneous construction and use to ensure the test was carried out on schedule. The landing site system conducted targeted training and drills focusing on the technical challenges of the spacecraft’s first sea splashdown and recovery of the return capsule.
At 11:00 AM, the ground test command center issued the ignition command, the rocket ignited and lifted off, reaching the spacecraft’s maximum dynamic pressure escape conditions. The spacecraft received the escape command from the rocket and successfully separated and escaped. The rocket’s first stage and the spacecraft’s return capsule were safely splashed down in the designated sea area according to procedures.
This test marked the first ignition flight of the Long March 10 carrier rocket in its prototype state, China’s first maximum dynamic pressure escape test of a spacecraft, China’s first sea splashdown of a manned spacecraft’s return capsule and rocket’s first stage, and the first ignition flight test mission performed at the newly built launch pad at the Wenchang Space Launch Site. This successful test verified the flight performance of the rocket’s first-stage ascent and recovery phases, as well as the spacecraft’s maximum dynamic pressure escape and recovery functions. It also verified the compatibility of the interfaces of various engineering systems, accumulating valuable flight data and engineering experience for subsequent manned lunar exploration missions .
[China Completes First Sea Search and Recovery Mission for Manned Spacecraft Return Capsule] On February 11, 2026, Beijing time, during the low-altitude demonstration and verification of the Long March 10 carrier rocket system and the maximum dynamic pressure escape flight test of the Mengzhou manned spacecraft system, the Mengzhou manned spacecraft successfully implemented maximum dynamic pressure escape and safely splashed down at sea. Mengzhou Spacecraft Safe Recovery….
At 12:20 PM on the 11th, the maritime search and rescue team completed the search and recovery mission of the return capsule. This is China’s first manned spacecraft search and recovery mission at sea, accumulating important experience for subsequent space station application and development missions and manned lunar landing missions. The
Mengzhou manned spacecraft involved in this test is mainly used for China’s manned lunar exploration mission, while also serving the operation of the near-Earth space station. The spacecraft’s return capsule has the capability for multiple reuses…
Images and visuals are from their Respectives CMS China Manned SpaceCNSA-China National Space Administration
