The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) conducted the second static fire test of the engines of the Long March 10 super-heavy launch vehicle, which is expected to carry taikonauts to the Moon in the future. The test took place on September 12, 2025 at the Wenchang Cosmodrome on the resort island of Hainan.
During the test, three separate firings of seven YF-100K kerosene engines were performed. The YF-100 series engines are a development of the concept of the Soviet RD-120 engines, which were received by China in the early 1990s. The RD-120, by the way, was manufactured by the Dnipro-based Yuzhmash and was used in the second stage of the Soviet/Ukrainian Zenit series launch vehicles.
Three separate firings of the YF-100K engines were to simulate takeoff, reentry, and landing, i.e., reusability testing. In total, the engines fired for 320 seconds, just before stage separation.
The Long March 10 super-heavy three-stage launch vehicle is capable of launching a payload of up to 70,000 kg into low Earth orbit, or 27,000 kg to the Moon. Its development has been ongoing since 2017 and the rocket is intended primarily for China's manned space program, including a manned lunar program. The Long March 10 is scheduled to first launch in 2027, and it is expected to deliver Chinese astronauts to the Moon in 2030.
Recall that China recently tested the Lanyue lunar manned lander.