This article was AI-generated / Dieser Beitrag wurde KI-generiert. Automatically compiled from the primary sources linked below; not additionally reviewed by an editor.
China’s Chang’e-7 (嫦娥七号) lunar mission will no longer be able to launch within the window originally planned for this year. According to a report by the Chinese Science and Technology Daily service (科技日报), the mission prerequisites are currently not met, meaning the launch cannot take place in the planned 2026 window.
Chang’e-7 is part of China’s lunar exploration program (CLEP) and, following the successful sample return missions Chang’e-5 and Chang’e-6, is the country’s next major lunar probe. Under previous plans, the mission targets the lunar south polar region, where it is intended to search for water ice and volatile substances. It is seen as a precursor to the future International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), which China wants to build together with international partners.
China has long emphasized a cautious and thorough approach to its complex deep-space missions: planned launch windows are only used when all systems meet the required standards. Delays to lunar missions are not unusual and typically serve to minimize risk. A new launch date has not yet been officially announced; the original schedule had envisioned a launch around 2026.