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

China’s latest rocket test has put the country neck and neck with the US in the race to the moon, with crewed landings before 2030 a realistic goal for both nations, according to analysts.During Wednesday’s eight-minute flight from southern Hainan province, China successfully tested two major components of its crewed lunar system: a mid-air escape of the Mengzhou crew capsule and a full launch, re-entry and splashdown of the moon rocket’s core stage.Rand Simberg, an aerospace engineer and space policy analyst based in Wyoming, called the test “a significant milestone for the Chinese moon programme”, adding that “they’re probably now ready to put crew on it”.Jonathan McDowell, a space historian and former Harvard astronomer, described testing both the rocket and crew capsule for the first time on the same flight as a bold move that likely reflected China’s high confidence in the system.The Mengzhou spacecraft separates from the Long March-10 carrier during Wednesday’s escape test and first flight for the heavy-lift new generation rocket. Photo by CNS/AFPThese milestones came as Nasa prepares to launch Artemis II – a crewed mission to loop around the moon without landing – as soon as next month.