11.02.2026

The return capsule of China's new-generation Mengzhou crewed spaceship safely splashes down in the predetermined sea area during a flight test, Feb. 11, 2026. A low-altitude demonstration and verification flight test for the Long March-10 carrier rocket and a maximum dynamic pressure abort flight test for the new-generation crewed spaceship system Mengzhou are successfully conducted at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province on Wednesday. (Photo by Wang Heng/Xinhua)

China on Wednesday successfully conducted its first maritime search and retrieval of a crewed spacecraft's return capsule, the China Manned Space Agency said.

The Mengzhou (dream vessel) spacecraft, China's new-generation spaceship for crewed mission, successfully conducted a maximum dynamic pressure abort test and achieved a safe splashdown on the sea. It was carried out during a low-altitude demonstration and verification flight test of the Long March-10 carrier rocket.

At 12:20 p.m. (Beijing Time), the maritime search and rescue team completed the recovery of the return capsule. The success offered crucial experience for subsequent space station operation and crewed lunar landing, the agency said.

The spacecraft Mengzhou is designed mainly for China's crewed lunar exploration and can also be used for space station operation. Its return capsule is capable of multiple reuses. ■

The first stage of the Long March-10 carrier rocket safely splashes down in the predetermined sea area in a controlled manner as planned, Feb. 11, 2026. A low-altitude demonstration and verification flight test for the Long March-10 carrier rocket and a maximum dynamic pressure abort flight test for the new-generation crewed spaceship system Mengzhou are successfully conducted at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province on Wednesday. (Photo by Han Qingce/Xinhua)

The first stage of the Long March-10 carrier rocket safely splashes down in the predetermined sea area in a controlled manner as planned, Feb. 11, 2026. A low-altitude demonstration and verification flight test for the Long March-10 carrier rocket and a maximum dynamic pressure abort flight test for the new-generation crewed spaceship system Mengzhou are successfully conducted at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province on Wednesday. (Photo by Han Qingce/Xinhua)

The first stage of the Long March-10 carrier rocket safely splashes down in the predetermined sea area in a controlled manner as planned, Feb. 11, 2026. A low-altitude demonstration and verification flight test for the Long March-10 carrier rocket and a maximum dynamic pressure abort flight test for the new-generation crewed spaceship system Mengzhou are successfully conducted at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province on Wednesday. (Photo by Han Qingce/Xinhua)

A low-altitude demonstration and verification flight test for the Long March-10 carrier rocket and a maximum dynamic pressure abort flight test for the new-generation crewed spaceship system Mengzhou are successfully conducted at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

A low-altitude demonstration and verification flight test for the Long March-10 carrier rocket and a maximum dynamic pressure abort flight test for the new-generation crewed spaceship system Mengzhou are successfully conducted at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

A low-altitude demonstration and verification flight test for the Long March-10 carrier rocket and a maximum dynamic pressure abort flight test for the new-generation crewed spaceship system Mengzhou are successfully conducted at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

A low-altitude demonstration and verification flight test for the Long March-10 carrier rocket and a maximum dynamic pressure abort flight test for the new-generation crewed spaceship system Mengzhou are successfully conducted at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Minggang)

A low-altitude demonstration and verification flight test for the Long March-10 carrier rocket and a maximum dynamic pressure abort flight test for the new-generation crewed spaceship system Mengzhou are successfully conducted at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Feb. 11, 2026. (Photo by Wang Heng/Xinhua)

Quelle: Xinhua

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China's lunar exploration program advances via successful tests of new rocket, spaceship

China on Wednesday successfully conducted a low-altitude demonstration and verification flight test of its Long March-10 carrier rocket and a maximum dynamic pressure abort flight test of its new-generation crewed spacecraft Mengzhou.

Carried out at the coastal Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in the southern island province of Hainan, these tests marked major breakthroughs in the country's crewed lunar exploration program, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said.

China aims to land its astronauts on the moon before 2030. The Mengzhou, which means "dream vessel" in Chinese, is designed mainly for the mission.

The Long March-10 rocket blasted off at 11:00 a.m. (Beijing Time). Upon reaching the conditions for abort at maximum dynamic pressure, the Mengzhou received command from the rocket and successfully executed separation and abort maneuvers.

The rocket's first stage and the spaceship's return capsule splashed down separately in the predetermined sea areas in a controlled manner as planned.

According to the CMSA, Wednesday's tests featured multiple highlights, including a new rocket model, a new spaceship model and a new launch pad, as well as involving maritime recovery tasks. The rocket and spaceship were both in their prototype configurations.

The products used in the tests have been modified to meet the requirements and procedures for reuses, the CMSA noted.

The tests also marked several historic firsts for China's space program: the first ignition and flight of the Long March-10 rocket in its prototype configuration; the first maximum dynamic pressure abort flight test of a crewed spaceship; the first maritime splashdown of a crewed spaceship's return capsule and a rocket's first stage; and the first flight test conducted via a newly built launch pad at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site.

The success of the tests has provided valuable flight data and engineering experience for the crewed lunar exploration, the CMSA said.

Previously, China conducted two static fire tests of the rocket, zero-altitude abort flight tests of the spaceship's return capsule, and landing and takeoff tests of the moon lander.

Quelle: Xinhua