China plans to launch two reusable rockets in 2025 and 2026, laying the groundwork for its future manned missions to the Moon, scheduled for the end of this decade.
Through the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. (CASC), the state company and main contractor for the Chinese space program, a new lunar program has been announced. This program focuses on the full reuse of launchers, an initiative inspired by the successes of Elon Musk's SpaceX company. The aim is to make space missions more sustainable and cost-effective, eliminating the need to build new launchers for each mission.
Although not explicitly named by CASC, these two rockets have diameters of 13 and 16 feet (approximately 4 and 5 meters) respectively. The larger one could potentially be a variant of the Long March 10 project, which stands 302 feet tall (about 92 meters) and can carry 60,000 pounds (about 27 tonnes) into translunar orbit. This launcher would be crucial for carrying taikonauts aboard the Mengzhou spacecraft to the Moon in 2030.
CASC's efforts to enhance China's space capabilities are part of a larger landscape where several Chinese companies are also working on reusable rockets. This evolution significantly increases the launch options and space access for the country.
In 2023, CASC successfully conducted a hover test featuring vertical takeoff and landing, marking a major advancement in the field of reusable launchers. These achievements and the ongoing development of reusable rockets are key components of China's space strategy, aimed at positioning the country as a dominant power in space exploration and utilization for the coming decades.