China delays launch of unprecedented water-hunting moon mission
China has delayed the launch of its Chang'e-7 lunar mission, which aims to search for water ice at the moon's south pole. The delay, attributed to unspecified technical readiness issues, impacts the ongoing space race between China and the United States.
Why it matters
The mission is a critical component of the global competition to establish lunar infrastructure and secure vital resources like water ice.
The anticipated launch of China’s robotic Chang’e-7 mission, designed to scour the moon’s south pole for water ice — a highly valuable resource that the US also hopes to use — “cannot take place during the planned window this year,” according to a statement from the China Manned Space Engineering Office shared by Chinese state media. The mission had been expected to lift off as soon as Sunday evening, or Monday morning Beijing time. It’s not clear how soon China may be able to attempt to get the mission off the ground. The precise reason for the delay was not immediately clear.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in