China is about to launch an ambitious moon mission to hunt for ice
China is preparing to launch the Chang’e-7 mission to the moon's south pole to search for frozen water in permanently shadowed craters. The mission includes a lander, rover, and probe, marking a significant step toward China's goal of establishing a permanent lunar research station by 2035.
Why it matters
The mission represents a major advancement in space exploration and international competition for lunar resources and long-term habitation.
China is poised to launch Chang’e-7, its most technologically complex lunar mission to date, in its search for frozen stores of water in permanently shadowed craters near the moon’s south pole. The uncrewed mission, named after a mythical Chinese goddess of the moon, will feature the deployment of a robotic lander, rover, and “hopping” probe to one of the coldest places in the solar system. It will represent a major step towards Beijing’s long-term goal of building a permanent human presence on the moon, with plans underway for a crewed lunar landing before 2030 and the setting up of a joint research station with Russia by 2035. Where will Chang’e-7 go?
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