The China moon mission progressed significantly on June 17 as engineers conducted a successful pad abort test of the Mengzhou spacecraft. This test marked a critical step toward China’s first crewed lunar landing. The operation began at 12:30 p.m. Beijing time at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.
Engineers placed only the Mengzhou spacecraft on the pad. Without a rocket, the capsule’s solid rocket escape tower fired for about 20 seconds. After rising briefly, the escape tower detached. Then three parachutes guided the spacecraft gently back to the desert floor. It landed safely with the help of an airbag system just two minutes after launch. Officials from the China Manned Space Engineering Office confirmed that the test met all objectives.
Abort tests like this are essential. They verify that spacecraft can carry crews safely away from danger during launch failures. Mengzhou’s escape system is designed to push the crew capsule away from the rocket quickly if needed. Most modern crewed spacecraft include similar systems. NASA’s Orion capsule completed a comparable test in 2019 as part of its Artemis program.
Although China started later than the United States in this space race, the China moon mission is rapidly gaining speed. The Artemis program, facing funding uncertainties in the U.S., may slow down. President Biden’s 2026 NASA budget proposal calls for canceling Orion and the SLS rocket after Artemis 3, now expected in 2027. These developments could give China a chance to close the gap or even pull ahead.
China is not slowing down. The next phase will involve an in-flight abort test. Engineers will use a Long March rocket to carry Mengzhou higher for further safety testing. Meanwhile, the country is finalizing development of the Long March 10 rocket for future lunar missions. This vehicle will work with China’s new Lanyue lander, also under construction.
With each successful test, the China moon mission moves closer to its goal. Taikonauts could soon reach the lunar surface, fulfilling a national ambition that combines science, prestige, and global influence. If momentum continues, China may plant its flag on the moon before the United States returns.
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