China's Plan to Land Humans on the Moon by 2030: New Details on the Mengzhou, Lanyue, and Long March 10 Missions

New details about China's plan to send humans to the moon before 2030 were revealed at the 7th Human Spaceflight Symposium in Beijing, where the project lead walked through each phase of the program. The presentation centers on two new spacecraft and the rocket that will carry them, along with an unmanned-to-crewed test schedule leading up to a crewed landing.

■ The Spacecraft and Rocket
- Mengzhou: a larger successor to Shenzhou for transporting crew to and from space
- Lanyue: a lander designed to touch down directly on the lunar surface
- Mission profile: Mengzhou docks with Lanyue in lunar orbit, then both astronauts descend to the surface
- Long March 10: a Falcon Heavy–style rocket with a three-core first stage plus two upper stages for the lunar trajectory
- Long March 10A: a smaller variant without the triple core, used for early testing

■ Mission Timeline
- 2027: unmanned Mengzhou test flight on Long March 10A, docking with Tiangong to demonstrate cargo capability
- 2028: Lanyue sent around the moon, demonstrating autonomous landing and return to space
- 2029: both vehicles launched to lunar orbit, docked, with Lanyue landing and rejoining Mengzhou
- Before the end of 2030: crewed flight planned, with astronauts exploring the surface using the Wang Yu spacesuit and Tianzhou rover

This is a detailed rundown of announced plans, specifications, and dates rather than mission footage or analysis. It suits viewers following space exploration, Chinese aerospace developments, or upcoming lunar programs, and gives you a clear picture of the program's structure and milestones. Consider comparing these schedules with other agencies' timelines as you follow future announcements.