Beijing, February 12: China has successfully conducted a low-altitude flight test of its Long March-10 rocket system at the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan Province. This achievement was confirmed by the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) on Wednesday. The test included a verification flight for the Mengzhou manned spacecraft system, focusing on maximum dynamic abort capabilities.
This flight test follows several significant milestones, including the tethered ignition test of the Long March-10 rocket, the zero-altitude abort test of the Mengzhou spacecraft, and the integrated landing and takeoff verification of the Lanyue lunar lander. It marks another major developmental achievement for China’s manned lunar exploration program.
The mission featured several firsts, including a new rocket model, a new manned spacecraft, a newly constructed launch pad, and a maritime recovery mission for both the rocket and the spacecraft.
According to officials, the Mengzhou manned spacecraft is primarily designed for China’s manned lunar exploration program. It will also support operations in low Earth orbit, including activities related to the space station. The return capsule is designed for multiple reuses.
This test represents the first ignition flight mission of the Long March-10 rocket in its initial prototype configuration. It also marks the first maximum dynamic pressure abort test for China’s manned spacecraft, the first maritime splashdown recovery of the country’s manned spacecraft return capsule, and the inaugural ignition flight mission from the newly built launch pad in Wenchang.
The successful test verified the rocket’s ascent and recovery performance, as well as the spacecraft’s maximum dynamic pressure abort and recovery capabilities. It also validated interface compatibility among various engineering systems, providing valuable flight data and engineering experience for future manned lunar exploration missions.
(Source: China Media Group, Beijing)
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