Chang'e-7 Spacecraft Arrives at Wenchang Launch Site, Planned for Launch in Second Half of 2026
Summary: China's Chang'e-7 spacecraft has safely arrived at Wenchang Satellite Launch Center via air and land transportation, scheduled for launch in the second half of 2026. The mission will conduct lunar south pole environment and resource exploration with breakthrough technologies.
Sources (original pages)
Republication note: This article is republished from Xinhua News Agency, with authoritative information sources. Image source: WeChat Account of China Manned Space.
Chang'e-7 represents a crucial mission in China's lunar exploration program, marking a significant enhancement of the nation's deep space exploration capabilities.
Core Mission Objectives
The Chang'e-7 mission aims to achieve breakthrough technologies including:
- High-precision lunar soft landing - Achieving precise landing on lunar surface
- Legged locomotion - Spacecraft mobility capability on lunar surface
- Lunar surface hopping - Hopper-style exploration similar to lunar rovers
- Permanent shadow crater exploration - Exploring permanent shadow regions at lunar south pole
Exploration Methods
The mission will employ integrated exploration methods including "orbit, landing, survey, and hopping" to conduct detailed surveys of the lunar south pole environment and resources, while actively participating in international cooperation for scientific data sharing.
Technical Integration
To fully leverage the advantages of the new national system, China will deeply integrate existing resources in manned lunar landing and unmanned lunar exploration fields, utilizing technical capabilities and practical experience accumulated over decades from the manned space program and Chang'e missions to enhance the comprehensive benefits of China's lunar exploration.
The advancement of Chang'e-7 mission will lay a solid technical foundation for China's future manned lunar landing and deep space exploration endeavors.