China delays Chang'e-7 lunar resource mission beyond 2026

(SpaceEnergy) China has postponed its Chang'e-7 lunar south-pole resource mission after determining that the spacecraft was not ready for its planned 2026 launch window.

The China Manned Space Agency said the mission did not meet launch conditions and would not be flown during this year’s scheduled window, following an assessment focused on mission reliability. It did not disclose the technical issue or give a revised launch date.

Chang'e-7 is designed to investigate the lunar south pole using an orbiter, lander, rover and hopping probe.

The China National Space Administration (CNSA) has identified lunar water ice and volatile compounds as primary targets. The mission is intended to conduct remote-sensing and in-situ measurements of resources and the south-polar environment, supporting development of a future lunar research station.

CNSA said in March that researchers had developed higher-resolution models of water-ice stability around Shackleton crater to help identify areas where Chang'e-7 could conduct in-situ searches.

The spacecraft and its Long March 5 launch vehicle had been transferred to the launch pad at Wenchang on 19 August ahead of planned final checks and propellant loading.