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China hunts for lunar ice in one of solar system's coldest places
The mission will combine orbiting, landing, roving and hopping to survey the lunar south pole and test international instruments, officials said.
- On August 24, China will launch the Chang'e-7 mission from the Wenchang Space Launch Site atop a Long March 5 Y14 rocket, targeting the Shackleton Crater at the lunar south pole to prospect for water ice.
- Searching for water ice is critical for future lunar bases, as the resource could provide drinking water, oxygen, and rocket propellant, reducing reliance on costly resupply missions from Earth.
- The mission features a novel hopping probe designed to descend into permanently shadowed craters, alongside international instruments including a 1.5-kilogram telescope developed by the University of Hong Kong and International Lunar Observatory Association .
- Multiple nations are competing to explore the lunar south pole, as NASA's Artemis program, India's Chandrayaan-3, and Russia's joint efforts with China aim to secure data on potential lunar water resources.
- Data gathered by this mission will support China's long-term plan for a permanently inhabited research station and a crewed lunar landing by 2030, while a follow-up Chang'e-8 mission is scheduled for 2028.
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China is launching a moon mission to find water ice
We've known for nearly two decades that some form of water exists on the moon. What we still don't know is exactly how much accessible water ice lies inside permanently shadowed craters, how deeply it is buried or what form it takes.
·Douglas, United Kingdom
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China’s Chang’e-7 Mission To Hunt For Lunar Ice In One Of The Solar System’s Coldest Places
<p><span data-contrast="auto">China is preparing to launch Chang’e-7, a highly advanced uncrewed lunar mission designed to search for frozen water in permanently shadowed craters near the Moon’s south pole. The mission will use a robotic lander, rover and “hopping” probe to investigate an extremely cold region of the lunar surface.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">According to media reports, Chang’e-7 is…
·India
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Total News Sources14
Leaning Left3Leaning Right3Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 25%
C 50%
R 25%
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