China's Chang'e-7 mission, scheduled for around 2026, is poised to unlock the Moon's mysteries further, checking if there is evidence of water on the South Pole of the Earth's natural satellite, said Wu Weiren, chief designer of the country's lunar exploration project, in a recent interview with China Central Television (CCTV) in Huangshan City, Anhui Province in east China.
Wu, also academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said the ambitious mission could revolutionize future lunar exploration.
"Why will we go to the [Moon's] south pole? Some international peers have launched probes and they think the detected results show the presence of water molecules in the atmosphere above the South Pole. If this is true, then it's possible that water exists in the permanently shadowed regions there, likely in the form of ice, as these areas have not been exposed to sunlight for long time. Whether there is water, and how much it is there, are key questions that concern people and the scientists worldwide," explained Wu.
Wu said if China can find direct evidence of water ice, it will be an extraordinary achievement and Chang'e-7 also has the potential to become the world's first spacecraft to land at the lunar South Pole.
"It would create conditions for long-term human presence on the Moon and lay the foundation for humans to embark on deeper space exploration from the Moon, such as journeys to Mars or other celestial bodies," he said.
Following Chang'e-7, China plans to launch Chang'e-8 around 2028 to test in-situ resource utilization technology on the Moon.
By 2030, China aims to realize a manned lunar landing, and by 2035, to establish the core structure of an international lunar research base.
So far, more than 50 countries and international organizations have already signed cooperation agreements with China on this ambitious project.
China's Chang'e-7 mission aims for groundbreaking water discovery on Moon
