China suddenly postponed an ambitious mission to the Moon to search for water ice
Kyiv • UNN
The launch of Chang’e-7 to the Moon’s south pole will not take place during the planned window this year. The reasons for the postponement were not given.
China postponed the planned launch of the "Chang’e-7" lunar mission, which was intended to study the Moon’s south pole, in particular to search for water ice in permanently shadowed craters. The China Manned Space Agency reported this on Sunday, UNN writes.
Details
The spacecraft was initially scheduled to launch in the coming days from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on Hainan Island. However, the space agency said that the mission did not meet the launch conditions and could not take place during this year’s planned launch window.
The decision was made following a "comprehensive assessment," guided by the principles of "prudence, reliability and the mission’s absolute success." The Chinese agency did not specify the reasons for the postponement.
What "Chang’e-7" was supposed to study
As part of the mission, scientists planned to study permanently shadowed areas of the Moon and conduct environmental and resource research on its south pole. According to China’s Xinhua news agency, one of the key objectives of "Chang’e-7" was to achieve technological breakthroughs.
Preparations for the launch continued at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in recent weeks. "Chang’e-7" was to become the seventh mission under China’s "Chang’e" lunar exploration program.
The program’s previous mission — "Chang’e-6" — delivered rock and soil samples from the far side of the Moon to Earth in 2024. This was the first instance in history of samples being returned from this part of Earth’s satellite.