Chinese scientists have completed a ground test on the power system of the country’s new carrier rocket. The Long March-5 rocket, designed for the final step of China’s lunar program, may take off as early as next year.

The engine of the rocket carrier uses non-toxic and non-polluting propellant. It is larger than the previous generations of the Long March carriers, with a diameter of five meters. The carrier rocket will have a payload capacity of 25 tons. It will be shipped to southern China’s Hainan province for flight test and used for launches of future space stations.