Chang'e 7 — China's Lunar South Pole Survey Mission

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Mission Overview

Chang'e 7 is China's next major lunar mission, designed as a comprehensive survey of the lunar south pole. The mission is notably ambitious in scope, comprising four separate spacecraft elements: an orbiter, a lander, a rover, and a mini-hopping probe — each tasked with different aspects of south pole exploration.

The mini-hopping probe is the most novel element. It will be capable of hopping into permanently shadowed craters where conventional rovers cannot operate, directly sampling the environment where water ice is most likely to exist. This approach circumvents one of the biggest challenges of south pole exploration — the inability of solar-powered rovers to enter and exit permanently dark craters.

Chang'e 7 is a precursor to China's planned International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), a permanent base at the south pole being developed in partnership with Russia and other nations. The mission will help characterize candidate sites and demonstrate technologies needed for the permanent station, currently planned for the 2030s.

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Technical Overview

Mission Components 4 Orbiter, lander, rover, hopper

Launch Vehicle Long March 5

Landing Region South Pole Shackleton crater area

Mini-Hopper Shadowed Craters Capable of entering permanently shadowed craters

Seismograph Moonquake Detection For moonquake detection and interior study

Rover Solar-Powered For south pole surface traverse

Orbiter High-Res Mapping High-resolution mapping and relay

Target Launch Aug 2026

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Mission Objectives

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South Pole Survey

Conduct the most comprehensive survey of the lunar south pole to date, combining orbital mapping, surface exploration, and subsurface access.

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Water Ice Detection

Search for water ice using multiple approaches: the mini-hopper entering permanently shadowed craters, the rover analyzing surface material, and the orbiter mapping hydrogen signatures from above.

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Mini-Hopper Demonstration

Deploy a novel hopping probe into permanently shadowed craters where temperatures can reach -230°C, directly sampling environments that conventional rovers cannot access.

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Seismic Study

Deploy a seismograph to detect moonquakes and characterize the structure of the lunar interior at the south pole, complementing data from Chandrayaan-3's ILSA instrument.

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ILRS Site Characterization

Evaluate candidate sites for China's planned International Lunar Research Station, assessing terrain, illumination, resource availability, and environmental conditions.

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Spacecraft

Spacecraft diagram coming soon

01 Orbiter Lunar polar orbit platform for high-resolution surface mapping, terrain characterization, and communication relay between surface elements and Earth.

02 Lander Precision landing platform delivering the rover and mini-hopper to the south pole. Carries surface instruments and serves as a communications relay for surface operations.

03 Rover Solar-powered exploration vehicle for traversing illuminated terrain at the south pole. Equipped with ground-penetrating radar and spectrometers for soil analysis.

04 Mini-Hopping Probe Novel flying/hopping vehicle powered by thrusters, capable of entering permanently shadowed craters where no sunlight reaches. Carries sensors for water ice detection and environmental measurement.

05 Seismograph Station Surface-deployed instrument package for detecting and characterizing moonquakes, building China's understanding of the lunar interior.

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Mission Updates

Milestone April 10, 2026

Chang'e 7 Spacecraft Arrives at Wenchang Launch Site

All components of the Chang'e 7 mission — an orbiter, lander, rover, and mini-hopping probe — were delivered by air and road to the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province. The China Manned Space Agency said pre-launch facilities are in good condition with preparations on schedule for launch in the second half of 2026 atop a Long March 5. The mission will attempt to land on an illuminated peak near Shackleton crater and search for water ice in permanently shadowed regions.

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Update February 27, 2026

Chinese Scientists Map Water Ice Deposits for Landing Site Selection

Chinese scientists published a high-resolution thermal stability model mapping water ice deposits near Shackleton Crater to guide the Chang'e 7 mission's landing site selection and water ice detection efforts. The mission remains on track for an August 2026 launch.

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