China Ready To Make Footprints On The Moon, The Latest 2030

JAKARTA - China is reportedly developing a rocket to bring its astronauts to the Moon in 2030. The pair of rockets was nicknamed, Long March-10, which will use liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen, and kerosene as propellants.

Rocket expert from China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology under China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), Rong Yi explained, Long March-10 is designed to send a spacecraft and lunar lander into Earth-Moon transfer orbit separately.

The two rockets will meet once in orbit while circling the Moon. Yi stated that the rocket is expected to conduct a test flight in 2027.

The launch vehicle will have a height of about 90 meters and has the first three cores of 5 meters in diameter. This version of the rocket will have a mass when it takes off 210,000 kilograms, capable of launching 27,000 kilograms into lunar transfer orbit. It also features a launch system above its fairing payload.

Meanwhile, the 67-meter length version will have a first-stage core capable of launching a cargo weighing 14,000 kg into low-Earth orbit (LEO).

The variant will be used to launch a LEO version of a new crew spacecraft to the Tiangong space station and become the first test rocket configuration.

Launching Chinese state media, Xinhua from Space, Thursday, July 27, China is also reportedly developing a spacecraft near the earth with a capacity of four to seven crew members, which is being prepared for the country's space tourism.