China schedules Long March 10B rocket launch and recovery attempt

2026-06-25 · Source: SpaceNews · Field: Transportation & Mobility — Aviation & Aerospace · Depth: Intermediate, short

Summary

China is preparing for the debut flight of its Long March 10B reusable rocket, with a launch window set for July 10-13, between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. Eastern (0500-0900 UTC), from the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site. This two-stage, 5.0-meter-diameter kerosene-liquid oxygen rocket is a cargo variant of the Long March 10A, both part of the Long March 10 series designed for crewed lunar missions, aiming to land astronauts on the moon before 2030. The mission will be the series' first orbital flight and includes an attempt to recover the first stage at sea using a net capture system, marking China's third such recovery effort. This launch follows a wet dress rehearsal in April and a busy June with 10 launches, contributing to China's 44 launches year-to-date, putting it on track to surpass 100 launches in 2025.

Key takeaway

For space industry analysts tracking global launch capabilities, China's Long March 10B debut and recovery attempt is a pivotal event. You should closely monitor the success of this first orbital flight and the sea recovery, as it directly impacts China's timeline for crewed lunar landings by 2030 and its broader reusable launch vehicle strategy. This mission provides crucial data on their progress towards high-cadence, cost-effective space access.

Key insights

China's Long March 10B debut marks a critical step in its reusable rocket and crewed lunar program.

Principles

• Reusability is key for lunar ambitions.
• Incremental testing validates complex systems.
• National space programs drive innovation.

In practice

• Observe Long March 10B recovery attempt.
• Monitor China's 2025 launch cadence.

Topics

• Long March 10B
• Reusable Rockets
• Lunar Missions
• China Space Program
• First Stage Recovery
• Space Launch Cadence

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by SpaceNews.