China’s Spacecraft for Moon Missions Named: Mengzhou and Lanyue
China’s ambitious plans to put astronauts on the moon have taken a significant step forward as the country’s human spaceflight agency, CMSA, has officially named the spacecraft that will make this historic journey. The spacecraft that will transport astronauts beyond low Earth orbit has been named Mengzhou, while the lunar lander has been named Lanyue.
The name Lanyue, which means “Embracing the Moon,” is a reference to the renowned Tang dynasty poet Li Bai. According to CMSA, the chosen name appears in a poem by Mao Zedong. On the other hand, Mengzhou, which means “Dream Vessel,” follows the naming style of China’s current spacecraft, Shenzhou and Tianzhou, which are used to transport astronauts and cargo to the Tiangong space station in low Earth orbit.
The names were selected through a public contest that CMSA opened in August 2023. The agency received an overwhelming response, with 2,000 submissions from various organizations and individuals. An expert panel was responsible for choosing the final names.
Mengzhou, previously referred to as the “next-generation crewed spacecraft,” will have two variants. One variant will be designed for low Earth orbit and will be capable of carrying seven astronauts. The other variant, also named Mengzhou, will transport three astronauts into lunar orbit. China conducted a successful boilerplate test flight of the spacecraft in 2020, and a full debut flight is expected around 2027.
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the country’s main space contractor, is leading the design and construction of both the spacecraft and lander. Additionally, CASC is developing a new rocket called the Long March 10 specifically for launching these new spacecraft.
China’s moon landing plan involves the launch of two Long March 10 rockets, which will be based on the current Long March 5. One rocket will carry the Mengzhou spacecraft, while the other will launch the Lanyue lander. Once in lunar orbit, the two spacecraft will rendezvous and dock.
The mission will involve a pair of astronauts transferring from Mengzhou to the lander and descending to the lunar surface, while a third astronaut remains aboard Mengzhou. Lanyue will utilize a separate propulsion stage for the descent and landing on the moon and will also carry a crew rover weighing 440 pounds (200 kilograms). After a brief stay on the lunar surface, Lanyue will launch the astronauts back into lunar orbit. The two spacecraft will then rendezvous and dock once again in preparation for the journey back to Earth.
Ji Qiming, assistant to the director of CMSA, provided an update on the progress of the mission’s hardware, stating that the development of primary spacecraft such as the Long March 10 rocket, Mengzhou crew spacecraft, Lanyue lander, and spacesuits has been completed. The technical proposals for the launching site and landing site have also been finalized. Plans for lunar science payloads and a crew lunar rover are currently being formulated, along with various facilities and equipment for test launches at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site.
Excitement surrounding China’s moon missions is building, and recently, models of the rocket, spacecraft, and lander were showcased at an exhibition in Shanghai. As China continues to make significant strides in its space exploration endeavors, the world eagerly awaits its next giant leap towards reaching the moon.