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According to Chinese spaceflight sources, the combination of the Chang’e-7 lunar probe and its launch vehicle has been moved vertically to the launch zone at the Wenchang launch site (文昌航天发射场). The step is among the final preparations before the planned launch, which has previously been indicated for the second half of the year.
Moving the fully stacked lunar probe together with its rocket in a vertical position is a routine yet logistically demanding procedure: it signals that all checks in the assembly building are complete and the mission is transitioning into the final pre-launch phase.
Chang’e-7 is part of China’s lunar exploration program CLEP (探月工程) and the first mission of its fourth phase, which together with Chang’e-8 aims to build toward an International Lunar Research Station (ILRS). The mission targets the vicinity of the lunar south pole, where volatile substances and water ice are to be searched for in permanently shadowed craters — foundational research meant to prepare for the later operation of a research station.
An official launch date has yet to be confirmed. Chinese launch schedules have a history of slipping, but the vertical-transport event suggests liftoff is imminent.
Stand: The report is based on the most recent Chinese primary source; the exact launch date remains to be confirmed.