Liftoff of a Long March 10 test stage and the Mengzhou spacecraft, Feb. 11, 2026. Credit: CASC
HELSINKI — China is set for a debut flight of its Long March 10B rocket in July and attempt to recover the first stage at sea.
Recently issued airspace and maritime warning notices indicate that the first Long March 10B reusable rocket, to launch from Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site, Hainan island, now has a launch window opening July 10, running between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. Eastern (0500-0900 UTC), with repeat daily windows scheduled through July 13.
The two-stage kerosene-liquid oxygen Long March 10B is a cargo variant of the Long March 10A, a rocket designed to launch a new crew spacecraft to low Earth orbit. Both launchers are part of the wider Long March 10 series designed to get Chinese astronauts to the moon. The Long March 10B launch will be the first orbital mission for the series, and thus is a crucial early orbital flight test for the program.
China conducted a wet dress rehearsal of the Long March 10B back in April, with the launch initially expected in the weeks that followed. The debut flight of the 5.0-meter-diameter rocket was, however, delayed for unspecified reasons. State-owned space contractor CASC and its key rocket-making institute, the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), have provided few official updates of the program, with unofficial images shared on social media providing insights into the progress of the launch campaign. A recovery vessel equipped with a net capture system is also on the move and expected to be in position downrange to catch the Long March 10B first stage.
