China's Lunar Programme: Chang'e, Mengzhou and Lanyue
How far has China's lunar programme come, what is planned, and how credible is a Chinese crewed landing before 2030?
Chapter summary
China has the most successful robotic lunar record of the century: every Chang'e landing since 2013 has succeeded, including the first far-side landing (Chang'e 4, 2019) and two sample returns (Chang'e 5 in 2020, about 1.7 kg; Chang'e 6 in 2024, about 1.9 kg from the far side).
Key takeaways
- 1
For crew, China is developing the Long March 10 rocket, the Mengzhou capsule and the Lanyue lander; in February 2026 it tested Mengzhou's abort system with a Long March 10 first stage that splashed down at sea, and it has completed an integrated landing and take-off test of Lanyue.
- 2
The official target is a crewed landing before 2030.
- 3
Chang'e 7, bound for the rim of Shackleton crater, was postponed in August 2026.
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