As Competition Intensifies, China Reports Its on Schedule For Moon Landing, Plans For Lunar Nuke Plant

Insider Brief

• China is advancing steadily toward its goal of landing astronauts on the moon by 2030, with spacecraft and rocket systems undergoing key tests as NASA’s Artemis program faces continued delays.
• The China Manned Space Agency has moved into an integrated testing phase for its Long March 10 rocket, Mengzhou crewed spacecraft, and Lanyue lunar lander, according to the South China Morning Post.
• At a Shanghai presentation, China appeared to support a Russian plan to build a nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2035 to power its planned lunar base, Reuters reported.

China is pressing ahead with its plan to land astronauts on the moon by 2030, completing key tests of its lunar landing spacecraft and rocket systems even as the U.S. program faces ongoing delays.

The country’s human spaceflight agency said this week that trials of its Mengzhou crewed spacecraft and Lanyue lunar lander have been completed “as scheduled,” along with several critical component tests. The progress keeps China’s moon ambitions on track, marking the latest step in its long-term plan to build a sustained presence on the lunar surface, South China Morning Post reported.

“The overall development of various manned lunar missions … is progressing smoothly. The Long March 10 and Mengzhou spacecraft are carrying out prototype development and testing as planned,” Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), said, as reported by SCMP.

While Beijing’s timeline still trails behind Washington’s, the race for the moon is increasingly defined by questions of who can establish infrastructure first and shape operational norms in space. Both China and the United States have staked claims on the lunar south pole — considered a strategic region for future exploration due to its suspected reserves of water ice.

Integrated Testing Phase

The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said it is now moving into a phase of integrated testing focused on the Long March 10 rocket, a three-stage superheavy launcher; the Mengzhou spacecraft, which will transport crew to lunar orbit; and the Lanyue lander, which will carry astronauts to the moon’s surface. These next steps include emergency escape drills, tethered engine ignition and simulations of the lander’s take-off and descent, according to the SCMP.

The Long March 10 will be a new addition to China’s heavy-lift rocket family, specifically designed for the lunar mission. Mengzhou, expected to carry multiple astronauts, must pass rigorous safety trials for launch scenarios and spaceflight stress, while the Lanyue lander will undergo mobility and landing tests on Earth as a precursor to its actual deployment on the moon.

NASA’s Artemis Program

Although China has not yet flown a full lunar test mission, its timeline has remained consistent and measured. In contrast, NASA’s Artemis program — which plans to return U.S. astronauts to the moon for the first time since 1972 — has encountered a series of setbacks. In December, the U.S. space agency announced delays to the Artemis II mission, now scheduled for early 2026, and pushed its planned lunar landing under Artemis III from 2026 to at least mid-2027, the South China Morning Post pointed out.

NASA’s Artemis I, an uncrewed test of the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft, completed a round-trip to the moon in late 2022. While the mission was broadly seen as a success, problems with Orion’s heat shield during atmospheric re-entry led to technical reviews and modifications, which have contributed to subsequent delays.

International Partnerships

Among those partnerships is a planned flight of two Pakistani astronauts to China’s Tiangong space station. One of them will serve as a payload specialist. The selection marks a rare example of spaceflight collaboration with another nation, reinforcing China’s intention to lead a separate and distinct network of international space activity.

The lunar south pole remains the prime target for both nations. Scientists believe the region’s craters may harbor water ice, which could be critical to sustaining life and supporting rocket fuel production for further deep space missions. Establishing access to those resources first could offer a major strategic advantage.

China has steadily expanded its space portfolio in recent years. Its Tiangong space station is now fully operational, with regular crewed missions. The country also landed a rover on Mars in 2021 and has successfully returned lunar soil samples from robotic missions.

Chinese-Russian Lunar Nuclear Plant

China’s vision for a permanent lunar outpost extends beyond space boots on the ground. At a recent presentation in Shanghai, Pei Zhaoyu, chief engineer of the country’s planned 2028 crewed mission, outlined infrastructure proposals for the base, including large-scale solar power arrays and surface-laid pipelines and cables to distribute electricity and heat. The presentation, attended by officials from the 17 countries and organizations participating in the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), highlighted China’s effort to position itself as a leader in long-term lunar development, Reuters reported.

In a more ambitious move, China appears to be endorsing a plan first proposed by Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos, to deploy a nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2035. The reactor would supply consistent power for the ILRS and could represent a critical step toward supporting sustained human presence in the harsh lunar environment. While Beijing has not formally confirmed the nuclear project, its inclusion in an official presentation suggests at least tacit approval, according to Reuters.

The proposed nuclear energy unit would significantly bolster the ILRS, which China plans to build at the Moon’s south pole.

China’s timeline to complete a “basic model” of the ILRS aligns with 2035, as previously outlined by Wu Weiren, chief designer of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Project and a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.