Author: kevinjamesng

At approximately 11 PM on April 8, 2026 Beijing time, the Long March 10B carrier rocket began erection at Launch Complex 2 of the CNSA – China National Space Administration-  Hainan Commercial Space Launch Center, Hainan Province, China, People’s Republic of China. . This marks the first time a rocket other than the Long March 12 has been launched from Launch Complex 2.

According to the current plan, the Long March 10B carrier rocket will launch from Launch Complex 2 at the end of this month, marking the maiden flight of the Long March 10 series carrier rockets. It might be in consideration will send several satellites   into orbit and attempt recovery not some kind of experiment.

So, what kind of awe will this large, bare-bones rocket, with a diameter comparable to the core stage of the Long March 5 and equipped with seven liquid oxygen/kerosene engines like the Long March 5

 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 Takionaut 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…

t somewhat resembles the Hongshan Jade Dragon, but the lower half presents a reverse-curving posture, and there’s an extra stroke on the right. What would the complete version of the paint scheme look like

The Long March 10B carrier rocket is scheduled to make its maiden flight from 11:00 to 12:00 on April 28, 2026 , at the Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site in Hainan. It will be the first to verify the world’s unique “sea-based net system recovery” technology and is expected to become China’s first carrier rocket to successfully enter orbit and be recovered.

I. Core Tasks and Technological Highlights

• First Flight Objectives and Innovative Recovery Plan
  • A world-first net-based recovery system : The rocket’s first stage is equipped with grid fins and a high-strength hook. It uses retro-rockets to decelerate and re-enter the designated area in the South China Sea, where it is captured by the 144-meter-long recovery vessel “Navigator,” which carries a 36-meter-high “well”-shaped flexible arresting net, achieving a “soft landing” without the need for landing legs. This design reduces weight by 15%, lowers the requirements for engine thrust accuracy, and aims to reduce launch costs to a long-term target of 20,000 yuan/kg. 

• Power and payload capacity : The rocket adopts a two-stage, bare-barrel configuration, with a body diameter of 5 meters and a total length of 69.67 meters. The core stage is powered by seven YF-100K/L liquid oxygen/kerosene engines in parallel (each with a thrust of 125 tons), providing a takeoff thrust of 892 tons. The second stage is equipped with one YF-219 liquid oxygen/methane engine . In recovered condition, it has a payload capacity of ≥16 tons to low Earth orbit at an altitude of 200 km and ≥11 tons to orbit at an altitude of 900 km, meeting the needs of satellite internet networking and lunar base construction

Images and visuals are from their Respectives CMS China Manned SpaceCNSA-China National Space Administration

At 19:32 Beijing Time  on April 11, the Jielong-3 carrier rocket ignited and lifted off from the sea area near Yangjiang, Guangdong province, China, People’s Republic of China, successfully sending the satellite internet technology test satellite into its predetermined orbit. The launch mission was a complete success.

The satellite internet technology test satellite was developed by the Fifth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). The Jielong-3 rocket was developed by the First Academy of CASC. This mission marked
the 11th flight of the Jielong-3 carrier rocket.

• The high-density launch capability
  of this mission, launched only 20 days after the previous one, highlights the rocket’s rapid response capability. The project team significantly shortened the mission cycle through pulsed assembly and testing, parallel process optimization, and modular launch support system design, providing technical support for high-frequency commercial satellite constellation deployment
• Technological breakthrough
  • Orbit and Deorbit Challenges : The mission’s orbital altitude was the highest ever for the Jielong-3 rocket. The team ensured the rocket’s reliable deorbiting and avoided space debris through meticulous control parameter design and deorbit attitude optimization. 83234
  • Anti-interference upgrade : The front-end and back-end wired communication technology is adopted to eliminate interference from the complex electromagnetic environment near the shore, improve launch reliability and reduce support costs.
• The fourth-stage solid rocket motor, developed by the Fourth Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology, boasts advantages
  such as a lightweight composite material shell and a wide-angle, fully flexible nozzle. Its first-stage thrust reaches 200 tons, and its overall performance is world-class, supporting the rocket’s stability of “ten successful launches in ten years”.

Images and visuals are from their respectives

🌐 II. Strategic and Industrial Value

• The satellite
  internet technology test satellite launched this time was developed by the Fifth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. Its purpose is to verify key technologies for low-Earth orbit constellation communication and lay the foundation for building China’s independent space internet system. The plan is to complete the network of 120 satellites by the end of 2026, providing centimeter-level high-precision global navigation enhancement services.136
• Commercial Space Benchmark
  • Cost advantage : The unit payload launch cost is as low as US$10,000/kg, which is better than similar international rockets. A total of 155 satellites have been sent into space.@Qilu Evening News
  • Industrial chain synergy : Relying on the “front port and back factory” model of Shandong Haiyang Oriental Space Port, the integration of rocket assembly, testing and launch is realized. In 2026, it is planned to support more than 10 sea launches and attract more than 32.2 billion yuan in investment.30
• The integration of people’s livelihood and cultural tourism
  in the launch caused an optical phenomenon of “space jellyfish” on the coast of Guangdong, attracting tens of thousands of tourists to watch; Rizhao, Haiyang and other places in Shandong took advantage of the situation to develop the “aerospace + cultural tourism” business model, launched themed markets and sea view rooms for viewing the launch, and boosted the regional economy.

🔮 III. Future Development Direction

• Technological iteration : The team will optimize the first-stage engine and the final-stage propulsion system to further improve launch efficiency, with plans to complete more than 10 launch missions by 2026.3234
• Globalized services : Leveraging the advantages of low-latitude launch locations (such as Yangjiang, Guangdong and Haiyang, Shandong), we enhance our long-range mobile launch capabilities and deepen cooperation with international clients (such as shared satellite launches in Pakistan).30

💡Summary : With a 100% success rate, a high-frequency launch cycle of 20 days, and a payload capacity of 1.5 tons, the Jielong-3 rocket has become a model of “fast, accurate, and stable” commercial spaceflight in China. Its technological breakthroughs and innovative business models are accelerating the development of China’s satellite internet and the rise of its space economy ecosystem.

Images and visuals are from their respectives

On CNSA –China National Space Administration    …. At. Wenchang, Hainan Province, China, People’s Republic of China ……Chang’e7 probe safely arrived at Wenchang Space Launch Site, China# Launch planned for the second half of this year…. As of the evening of April 9, 2026, the probe carrying out the Chang’e7 mission# has been safely transported to the Wenchang Space Launch Site in China via air-land combined transport. Subsequent pre-launch tests and preparations will proceed as planned.

The Chang’e 7 mission aims to break through key technologies such as high-precision soft landing on the lunar surface, legged walking, lunar flyby, and detection of permanently shadowed craters on the lunar surface. It will employ a comprehensive exploration approach including orbiting, landing, roving, and flyby to conduct environmental and resource surveys of the lunar south pole and to carry out international cooperation.

Currently, the launch site facilities and equipment are in good condition, and all preparations are progressing smoothly according to plan. Chang’e7 is planned for launch in the second half of this year .

To fully leverage the advantages of the new national system and utilize the technological capabilities and practical experience accumulated over decades in the manned spaceflight and Chang’e projects, and to enhance the overall benefits of China’s lunar exploration, China will deeply integrate existing resources and capabilities in the fields of manned lunar landing and unmanned lunar exploration . The Chang’e-7 probe arrived safely at the Wenchang Space Launch Site on the evening of April 9, 2026. It is scheduled to launch in the second half of this year (with a focus on the August launch window) and will begin humanity’s first on-site exploration of water ice at the lunar south pole

• A lunar south pole water ice exploration
  probe will land in the South Pole-Aitken Basin above 85° south latitude on the Moon, attempting the world’s first in-situ confirmation of lunar water ice. If successful, China may become the first country to directly find water on the Moon, providing crucial resource support for the future construction of a lunar base.
• Four key technological breakthroughs
  • High-precision soft landing : By using landmark image comparison technology, sub-meter level pinpoint landing with an error of less than 100 meters is achieved, which is two orders of magnitude higher than the previous accuracy.
  • Legged walking robot : Its six-legged locomotion design is adapted to the rugged terrain of the lunar south pole. It has the ability to crawl and drill, and can drill into shadow craters to obtain samples up to 1 meter deep. 
  • Leapfrog Exploration Debut : The leapfrog spacecraft can make three short flights, leaping from the illuminated area into the permanently shadowed crater to conduct in-situ analysis, breaking through the previous limitation that humans could not explore deep craters at close range.
  •  Extreme environmental challenges : Harbin Institute of Technology laboratory successfully prepared lunar soil water ice samples in a vacuum environment of -240℃, verifying the reliability of the equipment

🛰️ II. Detection Architecture and International Cooperation

• Four instruments and one satellite working together for detection
  • Orbiter : Responsible for high-resolution remote sensing imaging and creating a “treasure map” of the landing area
  • Lander : Equipped with a seismometer to explore the differences in internal structure between the near and far sides of the moon
  • The rover (lunar rover) adopts a vertical solar array design to adapt to the low light environment of Antarctica.14
  • Leapfrog : Independently performs shadow pit sampling tasks and has the ability to return to the
  •  
• The joint scientific payload from seven countries
  carried six international instruments, including the Russian Lunar Dust Observatory, the Italian Laser Reflector, and the Egyptian-Bahrain Hyperspectral Imager, enabling data sharing. It also innovatively integrated an “electromagnetic flag” designed by primary school students in Changsha, using magnetic fields to dynamically display the flag in the lunar vacuum environment.

🚀 III. Current Progress and Future Plans

• The probe, ready for launch,
  arrived in Wenchang via a combination of air and land transport using an An-124 transport aircraft. The launch site facilities are in good condition and have entered the final testing phase
• The strategic extension goal
  , together with Chang’e-8 launched in 2028, will form the basic model of a lunar research station, verify in-situ resource utilization technologies such as lunar soil 3D printing, and lay the foundation for China’s manned lunar landing around 2030
• To mitigate risks
  associated with the complex terrain of the lunar south pole (numerous deep craters and harsh lighting), multi-sensor fusion obstacle avoidance technology is employed to avoid failure risks similar to those of the US “Athena” lander.

💬 IV. Public Concerns

• Technological confidence : Technological innovations such as legged walking and leapfrog exploration inspire public pride in the country’s space capabilities
• Shortcomings of domestically produced equipment : Reliance on the An-124 for transportation has sparked calls for the development of a domestically produced 400-ton-class super-large transport aircraft.
• Significance of the exploration : This is a landmark challenge that marks humanity’s first deep exploration of the Moon’s “eternal dark zone,” rewriting our understanding of extraterrestrial water resources.

Images and visuals are from their Respectives CMS China Manned SpaceCNSA-China National Space Administration

At 0338 Hours Hong Kong SAR- Beijing Time9 April 2026 , China- People’s Republic of China- CNSA –China National Space Administration   Successfully launched  Chang Zheng – Long March 6A yao 17 Carrier Rocket ignited and took off at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center Shanxi Province.. China successfully launched the 21st low-Earth orbit satellite internet constellation from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center using a Long March-6A carrier rocket. This launch was the 81st space launch globally in 2026, China’s 21st (3rd this month), the 6th launch by the Eighth Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology, and the 3rd launch by the Long March-6A rocket

The Long March 6A rocket, developed by the Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, is China’s first solid-liquid coupled launch vehicle, capable of launching single, dual, triple, or stacked satellites …

I. Core Technologies and Positioning

• The Long March 6A, the first solid-liquid hybrid rocket
  , is China’s only medium-lift rocket to adopt a “liquid core stage + solid booster” configuration.
  • Core-level power : Equipped with two liquid oxygen and kerosene engines (non-toxic and pollution-free), providing stable thrust for extended range;
  • Solid propulsion : It is equipped with four solid rocket motors with a diameter of 2 meters, each with a thrust of 120 tons and an ignition response of only milliseconds, which significantly improves the initial thrust.@China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation…
  • Carrying capacity : ≥4.5 tons for 700 km sun-synchronous orbit, and up to 6.5 tons for 500 km orbit.@Beijing Blue Dragon31
• It can flexibly adapt to the needs of multiple missions
  and supports various launch configurations such as single satellite, dual satellite, three satellites, stacking, and wall mounting. It can be adapted to diverse payloads such as remote sensing satellites and communication constellations. For example, the Qianfan constellation was once deployed in the form of “18 satellites in one launch”.@Science and Technology Power1
• Breakthroughs in intelligence and security
  • For the first time in China, online fault diagnosis and adaptive reconfiguration technology for servo systems has been adopted, enabling automatic adjustment of control commands during flight.
  • The health diagnostic system completes engine status analysis within 0.3 seconds and automatically stops ignition if an abnormality is detected.
  • The system enables unattended launches, with personnel evacuated four hours before the mission and the system taking over remotely.

2 Application Scenarios and Strategic Value

• The core carrier of the satellite internet network
  is responsible for the networking mission of China’s “Government Grid Constellation” (GW constellation), which is planned to have 13,000 satellites and provide global coverage 6G communication services. More than 50 satellites will be launched by 2025, and the core backbone network is planned to be completed by the end of 2026.2734
• Military-civilian integration and industrial empowerment
  • Civilian applications : Supporting national land surveys, crop yield estimation, and disaster prevention and mitigation (such as real-time monitoring of floods);31
  • Military potential : Low-Earth orbit satellites can provide encrypted communication and high-precision navigation correction, enabling a “detect and strike” combat mode;
  • Commercial spaceflight : Reduce the cost of a single launch by 30% and promote the localization of satellite manufacturing (such as phased array antennas being 100% domestically controlled).
• The environmentally friendly and sustainable design
  uses green propellants, with emissions mainly consisting of water vapor and carbon dioxide; the satellite is equipped with a thin-film deorbit sail, which will burn up in the atmosphere within 3 months after the end of its lifespan, reducing space debris.

IV. Public Concerns and Future Challenges

• Spaceflight
  has created numerous astronomical phenomena, including the “twilight effect” and “rocket piercing the moon.” In June 2025, observers in Xi’an captured images of a giant scattering cloud ejected from a rocket in the morning light.4
• International competition and technological iteration
  • Advantages : Mature solid-liquid bonding technology (100% success rate), modular design supports rapid integration;
  • Challenges : Facing SpaceX’s rocket recovery technology, the development of reusable rockets needs to be accelerated; the international launch market is constrained by geopolitics.

With its “cross-domain propulsion” and mission adaptability, the Long March 6 rocket has become the backbone of China’s high-density space launches and will continue to support the country’s space infrastructure and global competition for low-Earth orbit resources in the future.

Images and visuals are from their Respectives CMS China Manned SpaceCNSA-China National Space Administration

On CNSA –China National Space Administration    …. ChangZheng  Long March 8A Carrier flight rocket …. At Hainan Commercial Space Launch Center. Wenchang, Hainan Province, China, People’s Republic of China At 0348 Beijing time…..   At 21:32 on April 7, 2026, a Long March-8 Y7 carrier rocket successfully launched the seventh batch of 18 networking satellites of the Qianfan constellation from Launch Complex1 at the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site

The Qianfan constellation, consisting of 18 networking satellites, was developed by the Shanghai Microsatellite Engineering Center and is constructed and operated by Shanghai Yuanxin Satellite Technology Co., Ltd. Utilizing Ku and Q/V frequency bands, it will provide global users with low-latency, high-speed, and highly reliable satellite (broadband) internet services. The Long March- 8 carrier rocket was developed by the First Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. As a member of the Long March-8 series rockets, this type of rocket, together with the Long March-8A rocket, forms a 5-ton and 7-ton payload capacity echelon for sun-synchronous orbit. The Long March-8 rocket used in this mission adopted a basic configuration with two boosters.

This year, the Long March-8 series rockets will begin a high-density launch mode, continuously promoting the construction of China’s low-Earth orbit satellite internet constellation and the high-quality development of commercial aerospace. This mission significantly shortened the launch and testing process and improved efficiency, providing strong support for subsequent high-density launch missions. The launch of the seventh batch of Qianfan constellation satellites was undertaken by China Great Wall Industry Corporation (Great Wall), a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, as the general contractor. This marks the seventh time Great Wall has assisted in the construction of the Qianfan constellation system, following the successful orbital insertion of the sixth batch of Qianfan constellation satellites in October 2025. In this mission, the meteorological system of the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site independently undertook the meteorological support work for the first time. This launch mission has further enhanced the comprehensive service and support capabilities of Hainan Commercial Launch Center.

❶ 20th Chinese space launch in 2026 (17 successful)

❷ 5th Long March 8 carrier rocket launch (5 successful)

❸ 13th Long March 8 series carrier rocket launch (13 successful)

❹ 636th Long March series carrier rocket launch (618 successful)

❺ 14th launch from Hainan Commercial Launch Center (14 successful)

 ❻ 753rd Chinese space launch (712 successful)

Images and visuals are from their Respectives CMS China Manned SpaceCNSA-China National Space Administration