10, 9, 8 ... rocket test puts China neck and neck with US in moon race

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by Ling XinFebruary 12, 2026 at 02:00 PM

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China successfully tested key components of its crewed lunar system on Wednesday, including the Mengzhou crew capsule's mid-air escape and the Long March-10 rocket's launch, re-entry, and splashdown. The eight-minute test flight, conducted from Hainan province, is considered a significant milestone, potentially positioning China to land astronauts on the moon before 2030. Experts note the simultaneous testing of the rocket and capsule reflects China's confidence in the system. This development places China in close competition with the US, as NASA prepares for its Artemis II crewed mission around the moon, potentially launching as early as next month. The Chinese test demonstrates substantial progress in their lunar program.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Hainan province 30% Nasa 40% Jonathan McDowell 50% Rand Simberg 60% United States 70% China ×280%

Keywords

moon race 100% china 90% us 80% crewed lunar system 80% rocket test 70% mengzhou crew capsule 60% artemis ii 50% space exploration 50% long march-10 40%

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Positive

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South China Morning Post

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90%

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China

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moon race china us crewed lunar system rocket test mengzhou crew capsule artemis ii space exploration long march-10

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