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China just did its Apollo 1-era capsule abort test and landed the rocket — in the same flight
Orig: China aces test of next-gen lunar capsule and rocket — Mengzhou in-flight abort, LM-10 first stage splashdown
Space.com analysis: the LM-10 first stage's powered vertical splashdown at sea is directly analogous to Falcon 9 first stage ocean recovery. China combining a safety system test with first-stage recovery in a single flight represents a compressed development timeline. Mengzhou has now completed both zero-altitude and maximum dynamic pressure abort tests. Uncrewed demonstration mission to Tiangong Space Station expected later in 2026.
Long March 10 fires for the first time and splashes down at sea — China's Moon rocket is very real now
Orig: China successfully completes low-altitude Long March-10 test, marking major breakthrough in manned lunar exploration
Global Times reports from Wenchang. Four technical firsts confirmed: first LM-10 prototype ignition, first maximum dynamic pressure abort test in Chinese space history, first maritime splashdown of both crewed capsule and rocket first stage, first use of the new Wenchang lunar launch pad. LM-10 adopts "three-and-a-half-stage" configuration, 90m tall, 2,700 tons liftoff thrust — China's largest vehicle and only one capable of translunar crewed missions.