Bad weather delays launch of China's historic Chang'e 7 mission to moon's south pole
China has delayed its ambitious ice-hunting Chang'e 7 mission to the moon's south pole due to a brewing storm near the launch site. A new target date has not been announced.
Severe Tropical Depression Narra has hampered China's latest lunar mission, potentially delaying the liftoff of Chang'e 7 until 2027 or beyond. Announced by the China Manned Space Agency, the storm prevented the rocket from launching from Wenchang Space Launch Site on Hainan Island. Initial postponements to the following day and beyond proved untenable, leaving the future of the mission's launch date uncertain.
Chang'e 7, comprising an orbiter and lander, is anticipated to touch down near Shackleton Crater, the moon's south pole, to search for water ice that could potentially support future human settlements. China's ambitious mission, comparable to NASA's Artemis program, aims to establish norms for living and working on the lunar surface.
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