China successfully conducted a critical in-flight abort test for its crewed lunar mission program on February 11th, 2026. The Long March-10 launch vehicle lifted off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan Province at 03:00 UTC, carrying the Mengzhou spacecraft designed for human lunar missions. The Mengzhou spacecraft executed an abort maneuver during ascent, separating safely from the failing first stage. The Long March-10 first stage then performed a controlled splashdown in a designated area.

Both spacecraft components were successfully recovered, marking a major milestone for China's deep space ambitions. Credit for the mission goes to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) and the China National Space Administration (CNSA).