CMSA: Spacecraft to fly to the moon

2023: Spacecraft Presentation

On August 31, 2023, the China Manned Space Flight Agency (CMSA) presented a project for a new generation spacecraft, as well as a lander to be used in lunar missions.

The ship consists of two sections: a capsule for returning to Earth and a specialized service compartment. In turn, the design of the lunar module includes a landing block and an assembly with a power plant. These vehicles will be used to deliver crews to low Earth orbit and to carry out manned missions to develop a natural Earth satellite. The PRC authorities expect to send their astronauts Moon until 2030.

According to CMSA, the next-generation spacecraft will be able to deliver three taikonauts to lunar orbit for subsequent landing or up to seven crew members to the Chinese Tiangong space station, which is in Earth orbit. A lunar lander weighing about 26 tons will allow two astronauts and a rover weighing about 200 kg to be delivered to the lunar surface. This four-wheeled vehicle will receive a set of scientific tools designed to explore the lunar environment, explore resources and identify potential locations for a future habitable base.

It is claimed that the new system will be distinguished by high reliability, reusability and modular design that will allow for different missions - both in near-Earth space and on the moon. The presented projects are part of a large-scale program, the main task of which is to organize the first Chinese manned missions to the moon. The initiative also provides for the development of a three-stage superheavy Long March 10 launch vehicle capable of delivering up to 70 tons of cargo to low Earth orbit and up to 27 tons to the moon.^[1]

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