China Sets Deep-Sea Record, Chang’e-7 Lunar Mission in 2026
China announced two landmark scientific achievements on May 23, 2026, simultaneously unveiling a world-record deep-sea materials test and confirming the integration of its lunar exploration program ahead of the Chang’e-7 mission launch. The dual announcements underscore Beijing’s accelerating ambitions in both deep-sea and space exploration.
Deep-Sea Record: 537 Days at 10,000 Meters
China has completed the world’s first 537-day deep-sea material corrosion test at a depth of 10,000 meters, breaking the global record for the longest continuous in-situ deep-sea experiment of its kind, according to Sina News. The test was conducted by the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) 725 Research Institute.
“China has completed the world’s first 537-day deep-sea material corrosion test, breaking the global record for the longest duration of its kind, marking a key leap in China’s deep-sea in-situ testing technology from full-depth coverage to full-cycle mastery,” a CSSC spokesperson said via CCTV.
In-situ testing means experiments are conducted directly in the natural deep-sea environment without bringing samples to the surface, preserving original physical and chemical conditions for the most authentic data. The 537-day test was designed to study the corrosion resistance of materials and coatings under long-term exposure to extreme deep-sea conditions.
Building on Previous Milestones
The achievement builds on an earlier phase of the project, which successfully completed 184 days at 11,000 meters depth on May 3, 2025, validating 30 types of special protective coatings, 4 types of new sacrificial anodes, and 22 types of structural metal materials, as reported by IT Home.
The project is part of the National Key R&D Program “Extreme Environment Long-lasting Protective Materials and Engineering Applications,” led by the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, with nine collaborating institutions. The team developed an intelligent in-situ monitoring system capable of real-time material performance monitoring under 110 MPa ultra-high pressure, achieving internationally leading technical indicators, according to Sohu.
“This is the world’s first systematic verification of multi-system materials in a real 10,000-meter deep-sea environment,” the project lead researcher said.
China has now become the first country capable of full-ocean-depth material testing, filling critical data gaps in extreme deep-sea corrosion environments and providing a design basis for deep-sea engineering equipment safety.
Chang’e-7 Lunar Mission and Program Integration
In a parallel development, China announced the integration of its crewed lunar landing and robotic lunar exploration programs under the unified name “Lunar Exploration Project,” as reported by Xinhua News. The consolidation merges tasks, resources, and personnel from both programs to maximize synergies.
The Chang’e-7 lunar probe has been delivered to the Wenchang Space Launch Center and is scheduled for launch in the second half of 2026, according to 21st Century Business Herald. The mission will conduct comprehensive exploration of the lunar south pole environment and resources using orbiting, landing, roving, and flying detection methods, with a key goal of searching for water ice.
Sun Zezhou, a National People’s Congress deputy and researcher at the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) Fifth Academy, stated that Chang’e-7 will be China’s first mission to the lunar south pole. “China’s lunar exploration phase IV is steadily advancing. In 2026, we will develop and launch the Chang’e-7 probe, heading to the lunar south pole for the first time to search for evidence of water ice,” Sun said.
The mission will also include international collaborative research.
Road to a Crewed Lunar Landing
The program integration comes as China works toward achieving its first crewed lunar landing before 2030. The Long March 10 rocket and Mengzhou crewed spacecraft have completed key tests including tethered ignition tests and zero-altitude escape flight tests, with reusable adaptability modifications underway. Upcoming milestones include Long March 10 technology verification flights and the first flights of the Mengzhou crewed spacecraft and Lanyue lunar lander.
Strategic Significance
The simultaneous announcement of records in both deep-sea and space exploration reflects China’s deliberate “two-pronged” strategy in frontier science. Both domains are listed as national priority areas in the 15th Five-Year Plan, which lists “deep space exploration” as one of 109 major engineering projects, including plans for planetary exploration phase II, near-Earth asteroid defense, and the International Lunar Research Station.
China’s deep-sea capabilities give it advantages in seabed mining claims under the International Seabed Authority, while the Chang’e-7 mission and the planned International Lunar Research Station position China as a leader in lunar exploration for partner nations, offering an alternative to the US-led Artemis program.
What’s Next
With Chang’e-7 expected to launch in the coming months, attention will turn to the search for water ice at the lunar south pole, a resource that could prove essential for future lunar bases. Meanwhile, the data from the 537-day deep-sea test will inform the design of next-generation deep-sea engineering equipment, supporting China’s ambitions in underwater resource extraction and marine infrastructure development.