tech
Due to need for 'absolute success,' China delays critical Moon launch to 2027
“The Chang’e 7 mission does not meet the conditions for launch.”
TL;DR
- China's Chang'e 7 lunar mission, intended to land at the Moon's South Pole, has been delayed from its planned launch window this year.
- The Manned Space program stated the mission "does not meet the conditions for launch" and cannot be carried out as planned.
- Potential causes for the delay include inclement weather from Typhoon Narra or a possible, though less likely, technical issue with the payload or Long March 5 rocket.
- The mission's delay opens the door for NASA's potential first landing at the lunar poles with Blue Origin's Blue Moon lander.
- The delay comes amid a competition between China and the US to establish a presence at the Moon's South Pole, particularly near Shackleton Crater, due to its potential for water ice.
- The mission requires a 90-day lunar orbit reconnaissance before landing, and a suitable launch window may not reappear until February or March, potentially pushing the launch to 2027.