China Plans Record Launches and Moon Tests in 2026

China is preparing to launch more rockets into space this year than ever before, pushing boundaries in its race to land astronauts on the moon by the end of the decade.

The country is expected to surpass its 2025 record of 92 launches, with much of the activity focused on building massive satellite networks to provide internet coverage across the globe. Two major projects, the national Guowang constellation and the commercially backed Qianfan network, are driving this unprecedented pace.

But the real excitement centers on China's lunar ambitions. Engineers are preparing critical tests of the Long March 10 rocket, which will eventually carry Chinese astronauts to the moon's surface. The Mengzhou crew spacecraft is also ready for its first test flight, bringing the crewed lunar landing program closer to reality.

The push toward reusable rockets marks another major milestone. Multiple Chinese companies are racing to debut new spacecraft that can land and launch again, similar to SpaceX's approach. At least seven different reusable rocket models could make their first flights this year, including vehicles from Galactic Energy, CAS Space, and Deep Blue Aerospace.

China's robotic missions are equally ambitious. The Chang'e-7 mission will land at the moon's south pole later this year, exploring Shackleton crater with a lander, rover, and small flying probe. Scientists believe this region might contain water ice that future astronauts could use.

Meanwhile, the Tianwen-2 spacecraft is already en route to collect samples from a near-Earth asteroid called Kamoʻoalewa. The mission will spend seven months studying the small rocky body before returning precious samples to Earth in late 2027.

Two crewed missions to China's Tiangong space station are also planned, including one that may carry Pakistan's first astronaut. The Xuntian space telescope, a massive observatory that will orbit alongside Tiangong, is nearing completion for a potential late-2026 launch.

The Ripple Effect

China's accelerating space program is creating ripples far beyond launch pads. The expansion includes new commercial spaceports and sea-based launch facilities, opening opportunities for private companies to compete alongside government agencies. This growing ecosystem is attracting investment and talent, transforming China into a major force in the new space economy.

The country's 15th Five-Year Plan, set to be approved in March, will formally outline ambitious missions through 2030. These likely include not just lunar landings but also deep space exploration and missions to study the solar system's edge.

With reusable rockets becoming reality and multiple ambitious missions taking flight, 2026 could mark the year China fully arrives as a spacefaring superpower, inspiring a new generation to look skyward.