Chang’e-7: China’s moon mission to hunt for water ice at south pole

China is set to launch its Chang'e-7 lunar probe on August 24 from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan. This ambitious mission aims to explore the Moon's south pole, search for water ice in permanently shadowed craters, and study the region's environment, terrain, and resources. The spacecraft, comprising an orbiter, lander, rover, and a specialized hopper, will launch aboard a Long March 5 Y14 rocket.

Chang'e-7's primary target is the Moon's south pole, with the lander attempting to land near Shackleton Crater later this year. The hopper will be able to make short jumps across the challenging terrain, using active shock-absorption technology to land safely. The mission will utilize various methods to study the region, including surface observations and investigations inside craters.

International experiments will be carried out by organizations from Russia, Italy, Switzerland, Thailand, Bahrain, Egypt, and others, focusing on lunar dust, plasma, high-energy particles, and the Moon's surface.

This mission is not only a scientific endeavor but also a significant step towards China's future human exploration of the Moon. China aims to land astronauts on the lunar surface by 2030, and Chang'e-7 will provide valuable information about the south pole's environment and resources. A follow-up mission, Chang'e-8, is planned for around 2028 to test technologies for constructing structures using lunar soil.

Together, Chang'e-7 and Chang'e-8 are expected to support China's plans for an International Lunar Research Station, a proposed multi-stage facility for scientific research on the Moon.