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published: 2025/12/24 09:43:22

China’s Long March 10: A New Heavy-Lift Rocket

China is actively developing the Long March 10 (Chang Zheng 10), a next-generation heavy-lift launch vehicle intended to substantially boost the nation’s space capabilities. Designed to compete with rockets like SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy and eventually contribute to missions currently planned for starship, the Long March 10 represents a major step forward in China’s ambitions for space exploration and infrastructure growth.

Overview of the Long March 10

The Long March 10 is envisioned as a two-stage rocket with the potential for future expansion with boosters. Its primary purpose is to deliver large payloads to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and beyond,supporting missions such as lunar and deep-space exploration,and the construction of large space stations. The rocket’s development is being led by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).

Key Specifications and Capabilities

The Long March 10 is projected to have a LEO payload capacity of approximately 150 metric tons (330,000 lbs). SpaceNews reports this is roughly 20% more than the Falcon Heavy’s capacity of around 120 metric tons, and approaches the early estimates for Starship’s lifting capacity. The rocket will utilize liquid oxygen and kerosene (RP-K) for its first stage and liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen for its second stage, a combination designed for high performance and efficiency.

Development Timeline and Phases

The development of the Long March 10 is proceeding in stages:

• 2024-2025: Initial flights of a partially reusable version of the Long March 10 are planned, without the use of additional boosters. Space.com details these initial launches will focus on testing core technologies and validating the rocket’s design.
• 2027: full-scale flight tests of the complete Long March 10 configuration,including potential booster stages,are scheduled to begin.
• Future Development: CASC is also exploring the possibility of adding strap-on boosters, potentially tripling the rocket’s thrust and further increasing its payload capacity, similar to SpaceX’s Falcon heavy configuration.

Boosters and Potential Configurations

The potential addition of boosters to the Long March 10 is a key aspect of its development. A three-booster configuration would significantly enhance its lifting capacity, allowing it to transport even larger and heavier payloads. This configuration is directly comparable to the Falcon Heavy, which utilizes three Falcon 9 boosters to achieve its impressive lift capability.

Comparison with Other heavy-Lift Rockets

Here’s a comparison of the Long March 10 with other prominent heavy-lift launch vehicles:

Implications for China’s Space Program

The Long March 10 is poised to play a crucial role in China’s enterprising space program. It will enable:

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