China Sets Chang'e-7 Moon South Pole Mission for 2026 as 2030 Crewed Landing Drive Accelerates
Updated
Updated · CGTN · May 24
China Sets Chang'e-7 Moon South Pole Mission for 2026 as 2030 Crewed Landing Drive Accelerates
5 articles · Updated · CGTN · May 24
Second-half 2026 is the new launch window for Chang'e-7, which will survey the moon's south pole environment and resources as part of China's push toward a crewed lunar landing by 2030.
Chang'e-7 will combine orbiting, landing, roving and hopping, and the probe has already reached the Hainan launch site, where pre-launch work is underway.
2030 preparations are being folded into a unified lunar program linking crewed and unmanned efforts, after China earlier completed Long March-10 system validation and a Mengzhou abort flight test.
Next up are a Long March-10 technical verification flight and maiden missions for the Mengzhou spacecraft and Lanyue lunar lander, while space station missions over the next 2 years test moon-landing technologies.
Can China's new rockets and spacecraft actually meet its ambitious goal of a crewed lunar landing by 2030?
With China and the US targeting the Moon's south pole, is a new space race for lunar resources now inevitable?
China's Chang'e-7 Mission (2026): Unlocking Lunar South Pole Water Ice and Shaping the Future of Moon Exploration
Overview
Chang'e-7, scheduled for launch in August 2026, marks a major step in China's lunar ambitions. The mission targets the illuminated rim of Shackleton crater at the lunar south pole, aiming to explore and analyze this scientifically valuable region. It features a main probe with an orbiter, lander, rover, and a mini-hopping probe, all supported by a dedicated relay satellite. Upon landing, the lander will deploy the rover and mini-flying probe for localized exploration, enabling detailed analysis of the site. This mission is a key part of China's broader plan to establish an International Lunar Research Station.