Chang'e 7

Chang'e 7
Mission typeOrbiter, Lander, lunar rover, hopping probe[1]
OperatorCNSA
Mission duration8 years (planned)[2]
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerCAST
Launch mass8,200 kg (18,100 lb)[2]
Start of mission
Launch date2026 (planned)[3]
RocketLong March 5
Launch siteWenchang
Moon lander
Landing sitePeak near the southeast ridge of Shackleton crater
88°48′S 123°24′E / 88.8°S 123.4°E / -88.8; 123.4[4]

Chang'e 7 (Chinese: 嫦娥七号; pinyin: Cháng'é qīhào) is a planned robotic Chinese lunar exploration mission expected to be launched in 2026 to target the lunar south pole.[5] Like its predecessors, the spacecraft is named after the Chinese moon goddess Chang'e. The mission will include an orbiter, a lander, a mini-hopping probe, and a rover.[6]

  1. ^ "The Space Review: What is China doing at the lunar distant retrograde orbit?". www.thespacereview.com. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference CE7 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Jones, Andrew (19 September 2022). "UAE rover to fly on China's Chang'e-7 lunar south pole mission". SpaceNews. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  4. ^ "Philleafspace" (in Simplified Chinese). weibo. 2023-04-25. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
  5. ^ McCarthy, Simone (2024-06-25). "China's Chang'e-6 moon mission returns to Earth with historic far side samples". CNN. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
  6. ^ Jones, Andrew (29 March 2022). "Next China moon mission will need precision landing to target ice at south pole". Space.com. Retrieved 8 April 2022.