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Antonov An-124
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Antonov An-124

Soviet heavy-lift cargo aircraft; used to fly Chang'e 7 spacecraft to Wenchang in April 2026.

Last refreshed: 14 April 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

Why is China still flying spacecraft on Soviet-era cargo aircraft in 2026?

Timeline for Antonov An-124

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Common Questions
How did China transport the Chang'e 7 spacecraft to the launch site?
China flew Chang'e 7 from Beijing to Wenchang on 9 April 2026 aboard an Antonov An-124 heavy-lift cargo aircraft.Source: event
What is the Antonov An-124 used for?
The An-124 is a Soviet-designed heavy strategic transport with a 150-tonne payload capacity, used for moving large cargo including spacecraft, military equipment, and industrial machinery.
Why does China use Russian or Ukrainian aircraft for space missions?
China has no domestic aircraft with comparable outsize-cargo capacity to the An-124. It charters An-124s commercially for moving spacecraft to launch sites, a practice that predates and continues despite the Ukraine war.Source: event

Background

The Antonov An-124 Ruslan is a Soviet-designed heavy strategic transport aircraft, first flown in 1982 and produced at the Aviant plant in Kyiv. China used an An-124 to fly its Chang'e 7 lunar south-pole spacecraft from Beijing to the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on 9 April 2026, arriving the same day Orion began its return trajectory from the lunar far side . The juxtaposition made it the moment the space-race subtext of Artemis II became explicit: one programme splashing down as the other moved to the pad.

Only around 55 An-124s were ever built, and production ended with Soviet collapse. Most in commercial service are operated through arrangements with Antonov Airlines (Ukrainian state) or Volga-Dnepr Airlines (Russian). China does not own An-124s; it uses them under commercial Charter, a relationship that has persisted despite the Ukraine war straining Antonov Airlines' capacity. The aircraft's 150-tonne payload capacity makes it one of very few options globally for moving large spacecraft components by air. Its nearest Western equivalent, the Boeing c-17, cannot match its payload.

The An-124's continued use by China for space logistics highlights how Soviet-era heavy transport infrastructure remains embedded in the global supply chain for launches. No Chinese equivalent exists yet, and the Y-20 strategic transport, while growing, lacks the An-124's outsize-cargo capability. China's dependence on this aircraft for moving spacecraft is an operational detail with strategic undertones.