CHINA conducted the second ignition test of its next‑generation heavy‑lift carrier rocket on Friday afternoon, moving a step closer to its goal of sending astronauts to the moon, the China Daily reported.

The propulsion test, held at 3 p.m. at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan Province, ignited seven engines in a prototype first stage of the Long March 10. The engines burned for about 320 seconds, completing multiple test objectives and producing extensive performance data, the China Manned Space Agency said. The trial focused on engine behavior under low‑thrust conditions and during re‑ignition sequences.

The first similar test, conducted on Aug. 15, produced a combined thrust of nearly 1,000 metric tons, setting a domestic record for most powerful engine ignition in such trials.

Developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp., the Long March 10 is a new launch vehicle designed to carry China’s next‑generation crewed spacecraft and a lunar landing module.

The moon‑mission configuration will include a central core and several side boosters, stand 92.5 meters tall, measure five meters in diameter, and have a liftoff mass of 2,189 metric tons with total thrust of about 2,678 metric tons. It is designed to send payloads of at least 27 tons on an Earth–moon transfer trajectory. The rocket is expected to be ready for a maiden flight around 2027.

A second variant, the Long March 10A, omits the side boosters and features a reusable first stage. That version will be about 67 meters tall, have a liftoff mass near 740 tons, and a payload capacity of roughly 14 tons for missions to low‑Earth orbit such as crew or cargo runs to the Tiangong space station.

Designers say the first two stages of the core boosters are largely identical across both configurations; the moon‑mission vehicle simply adds a third stage.

The reusable first stage is intended to perform a controlled, powered descent and landing using its engines, after which it will be captured by a specialized recovery net, designers said.

An industry insider, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that engines on expendable rockets are ignited only once, while reusable systems must demonstrate reliable re‑ignition to ensure safe reentry and landing.

“Ignition tests are therefore essential for verifying whether reusable engines can function well and produce sufficient thrust after being reignited,” the insider said.

(SD-Agencies)