China delays ambitious Chang'e 7 moon mission until 2027
The search for frozen water is crucial to both China and NASA's plans to establish permanent moon bases
China has postponed its ambitious Chang'e 7 moon mission to 2027, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced on Sunday. The mission, aimed at making the first ever landing on the moon's south pole, was scrubbed due to poor weather conditions linked to Typhoon Narra. Chang'e 7 was scheduled to launch on August 24, but the delay is now expected until at least 2027.
The CMSA cited the need for "absolute safety" in making the decision to delay the mission. The probe is designed to search for frozen water in the Shackleton Crater, a region spanning 21 kilometers, near the lunar south pole. Scientists consider this area a prime location for finding water on the moon, which is crucial for establishing long-term human presence.
China and the U.S. are competing to return humans to the moon, with NASA planning a crewed base by 2036 and China aiming to begin construction of an international lunar research station in 2031. China hopes to put humans on the lunar surface by 2030, while NASA's Artemis IV mission is tentatively scheduled for early 2028.
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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