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China Plans Moon Landing by 2030 Amid U.S. Competition

4/9/2026

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Center

China's Lunar Ambition

China aims to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030 to boost its standing amid U.S. lunar ambitions.
The Mengzhou spacecraft, capable of carrying seven astronauts, is central to this Moon-landing plan.
Recent tests include a successful low-altitude escape for the Long March-10 rocket, though systems require testing.
NASA's Artemis II mission has set a record for the farthest human travel into space, paving the way for a 2028 lunar landing.

Right

NASA's Artemis Achievement

NASA's Artemis II mission sets a new distance record, reaching 406,771 kilometers.
The crew, under Commander Reid Wiseman, completed the lunar observation and began the return on April 8.
The mission passed within 6,550 kilometers of the Moon and studied its terrain for nearly seven hours.
Artemis II launched on April 1 and does not involve a lunar landing.
Splashdown is planned for April 10.

History

Historical Context

The Apollo program, initiated in 1960, aimed to land humans on the Moon, fulfilling President John F. Kennedy's 1961 goal. On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 achieved this milestone with astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walking on lunar soil. The program's $25 billion budget underscored U.S. commitment to space exploration, a legacy that influences current lunar ambitions, including China's plans for a Moon landing by 2030.

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China's Lunar Ambition

China aims to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030 to boost its standing amid U.S. lunar ambitions.
The Mengzhou spacecraft, capable of carrying seven astronauts, is central to this Moon-landing plan.
Recent tests include a successful low-altitude escape for the Long March-10 rocket, though systems require testing.
NASA's Artemis II mission has set a record for the farthest human travel into space, paving the way for a 2028 lunar landing.

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