Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

China’s recent robotic circumlunar test flight snapped this image of the Moon with Earth in the distance.
Credit: Chinese Academy of Sciences

Even before the first launch of China’s Long March 5, rocket builders in that country are eyeing the Long March 9 – a super-heavy booster reportedly intended to support human missions to the Moon.

Li Tongyu, head of aerospace products at the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, is quoted in the State-owned China Daily, that Long March 9 “will mostly be determined by a host of factors, including the government’s space plan and the nation’s overall industrial capability, as well as its engine’s development.”

The Long March 9’s diameter and height, Li said, will be far larger than those of the Long March 5 – and a brand new engine will provide greater thrust.

The China Daily story also carries comments by Li Jinghong, deputy chief designer of the Long March 3A at the academy, stating that estimates show the Long March 5 would have to use four launches to fulfill a manned mission to the moon while the Long March 9 will need only one. In addition, the senior engineer said that manned lunar missions will not be the sole use of the Long March 9, suggesting that other deep-space exploration projects will also need the super-heavy launcher.

Deputy chief designer Li said that the diameter of the Long March 9 should be 8 to 10 meters. Weight of the booster is anticipated to be at least 3,000 metric tons, he said.

An earlier report by China News Service, said that Liang Xiaohong, deputy head of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, has indicated that the Long March 9 is planned to have a maximum payload of 130 tons and its first launch will take place around 2028.