China’s Chang’e-7 Mission Targets Water at the Moon’s South Pole
China is preparing to launch Chang’e-7, its most technologically complex lunar mission so far, in a search for frozen water inside permanently shadowed craters near the Moon’s south pole.
The uncrewed mission takes its name from a mythical Chinese goddess of the Moon. It will deploy a robotic lander, rover and “hopping” probe to explore some of the coldest terrain in the solar system.
The mission will also mark a significant step towards China’s long-term goal of establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon. Beijing plans a crewed lunar landing before 2030 and is working towards a joint research station with Russia by 2035.
Where Will Chang’e-7 Go?
Chang’e-7 is scheduled to launch next week from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan province. A Long March 5 rocket will carry the spacecraft and a range of scientific instruments, including water analysers, cameras and radars.
Once the spacecraft reaches lunar orbit, it will first study possible landing locations around the south pole. It will then attempt to land at a selected site.
One potential location lies near the rim of the Shackleton crater, a permanently shadowed depression. However, parts of the crater’s jagged rim receive almost continuous sunlight.
China has not publicly provided a detailed timeline for the mission. However, space watchers estimate that the landing attempt could take place around November.
After landing, the rover and hopping probe will begin surveying the lunar surface. The overall duration of the mission remains unknown.
Why Is the South Pole Important?
Craters near the Moon’s south pole have remained without direct sunlight for billions of years. As a result, scientists believe these areas could preserve ancient water and volatile organic compounds.
Some permanently shadowed terrain can reach temperatures as low as minus 203 degrees Celsius, according to NASA. Such extreme cold could help preserve frozen materials for very long periods.
Accessible water could become vital for future lunar bases. It could provide drinking water and oxygen for astronauts. It could also potentially serve as rocket propellant, reducing the need to transport supplies from Earth.
Meanwhile, high peaks and crater rims near the south pole receive near-constant sunlight. Therefore, they could offer attractive locations for future lunar outposts, providing relatively stable thermal conditions and a continuous source of solar power.
The United States, India and Russia have also targeted the Moon’s south pole. India is the only one of those countries to have landed nearby, with Chandrayaan-3 in 2023.
Over the coming years, NASA’s VIPER rover, the European Space Agency’s PROSPECT drilling package and the Japan-India LUPEX rover are expected to reach the lunar south pole. Consequently, the search for accessible water sources is becoming increasingly important.
A Hopping Robot for Dark Craters
Chang’e-7 will face a major challenge in exploring steep crater terrain. Traditional wheeled rovers could struggle to descend into some of the deepest and darkest areas.
To address this problem, the mission will deploy a novel hopping probe. The vehicle will carry a water molecule analyser and use small thrusters to enter shadowed craters.
After flying into a crater, the probe will land on six articulated legs. It will then hop back towards sunlit crater rims, where it can recharge.
Technical details about the hopper’s weight, engine performance and flight range have not been disclosed. However, China’s state news agency Xinhua has reported that the vehicle is expected to make at least three hops during the mission.
China’s Lunar Competition With NASA
Data gathered by Chang’e-7 and its successor, Chang’e-8, planned for around 2029, will support China’s plans for a crewed lunar landing by 2030.
The two missions are intended to lay the groundwork for a permanently inhabited research station. Therefore, Chang’e-7 is part of a broader programme rather than a standalone search for lunar water.
China’s plans coincide with NASA’s Artemis programme, which aims to return humans to the Moon by 2028 and eventually establish a sustained human presence there.
In April, NASA’s Artemis II mission completed a 10-day crewed flyby of the Moon. The four astronauts travelled farther from Earth than any humans in history, reaching a record distance of 252,756 miles before safely returning home.
With inputs from Reuters