Chang'e-7
Chinese lunar south-pole mission with an orbiter, a lander and a flying probe intended to reach a nearby crater, designed to survey water ice, volatiles and other resources; it carries six international instruments. It was on the pad at Wenchang atop a Long March 5 for an August 2026 window, but on 23 August 2026 the China Manned Space Agency said the probe did not meet launch conditions and could not launch in the planned window that year; no new date had been announced as of the last check.
Objective. Survey the south-polar surface environment and the water, ice and volatile content of lunar soil, and detect natural resources beneath the surface.
Facts
- Kind
- Spacecraft
- Mission type
- Prospecting
- Target
- MoonLunar south polar region
- Launch
- Not recorded
- Launch vehicle
- Long March 5
- Phase
- ManifestedVehicle and probe rolled to Launch Complex 101 on 2026-08-19 (The Diplomat); CMSA statement via Xinhua/CGTN on 2026-08-23 that the launch cannot take place in the planned window this year. 'manifested' reflects an assigned Long March 5 with no confirmed new date.
- Outcome
- Not applicable
- Why it is included
- Stated resource objective
Participants
Operators, payload owners, carriers and customers are recorded separately.
| Organization | Role |
|---|---|
| China National Space Administration | Operator |
Resources and evidence
| Resource | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Water ice | Targeted |
| Volatiles | Targeted |
Open evidence gaps
- No official new launch date; 2027 appears only in press and a partner institute's statement to CNN.
- Official reason for the postponement not given (press speculate weather from Tropical Storm Narra).
Record history
changes to this record's facts, newest first
Sources
8 sourcesThe Chang'e-7 mission, scheduled for launch around 2026, aims to survey the lunar surface environment, water, ice and volatile elements of lunar soil in the lunar south pole.
It will also be tasked with detecting the natural resources beneath the south pole's surface.
Wu said Chinese engineers are developing a special craft able to fly from the landing site to a nearby crater to explore for traces of water.
China's Chang'e-7 lunar probe does not meet launch conditions, and its launch therefore cannot take place during the planned window this year, the China Manned Space Agency said Sunday.
The assessment was conducted following the principle of prudence, reliability and absolute mission success, the agency said.
the mission is now expected to take place next year, potentially during one of two windows in spring or mid-summer
the CMSA has not made any official announcement to that effect
were moved to Launch Complex 101 at the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan Province on August 19