China’s Chang’e-7 moonshot will seek water ice at the lunar south pole
The country’s latest mission, Chang’e-7, will be the first to ever land directly at the moon’s south pole. Whatever it finds there could radically reshape a new space race
China is preparing for a groundbreaking mission, Chang’e 7, to explore the moon's south pole for water ice. This will be the first mission to land directly at the moon's south pole. If successful, the mission could significantly impact the space race between China and the United States, as it aims to find resources crucial for constructing lunar bases.
The mission, scheduled to launch on August 24, will include an orbiter, a lander carrying a rover and a hopping robot, and equipment from international partners. The lander's target is Shackleton Crater, a 21-kilometer-wide pit near the moon's south pole, where ice may be trapped. A six-legged robotic hopper will explore the region, drilling into the lunar surface to confirm the presence of water ice.
NASA's Artemis program and China's International Lunar Research Station are both planning lunar outposts near the south pole, indicating a growing competition for lunar resources.
Written by urgent.news from Scientific American's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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