Lanyue Lunar Lander

On 6th August 2025, China carried out its first test of the Lanyue lunar lander, a key step towards landing the first Chinese astronauts on the moon before 2030, the China Manned Space (CMS) program announced.

Key Points

Test Overview: The lander’s ascent and descent systems were comprehensively verified at a site in Hebei province designed to simulate the moon’s surface, with special coatings to match lunar soil reflectivity and terrain features like rocks and craters.
Technical Significance: CMS described the trial as involving multiple operational conditions, extended testing time, and high technical complexity, marking a critical milestone in China’s manned lunar exploration programme.
Lander Capabilities: Named Lanyue (“embrace the moon” in Mandarin), the spacecraft will transport astronauts between lunar orbit and the moon’s surface, and function as a living space, power source, and data center after landing.
Strategic Context: The test comes as the United States accelerates its Artemis programme, which plans to send astronauts around the moon in April 2026 and attempt a lunar landing in 2027.