China's Chang'e-7 lunar probe is scheduled for launch in the second half of 2026, and key lunar exploration projects are expected to be carried out accordingly, said the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) on Saturday.
Zhang Jingbo, spokesman of the agency, made the announcement at a press conference at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.
"To fully leverage the technological expertise and practical experience accumulated over decades through the Manned Space Flight Mission and Chang'e program, the existing manned lunar landing and unmanned lunar exploration efforts will be integrated across three areas of missions, resources, and teams. The integrated program is called the Lunar Exploration Program," said Zhang.
After initial tethered ignition and zero-height escape flight tests, the Long March-10 carrier rocket and Mengzhou spacecraft were adapted for reusability.
Then, early this year, China successfully conducted low-altitude demonstration tests of the Long March-10 carrier rocket system and maximum-dynamic-pressure escape tests of the Mengzhou spacecraft system, paving the way for a reusable crewed transportation system and future crewed lunar landings.
"In April this year, the Chang'e-7 probe was transported to the Wenchang Space Launch Site in China. Preparations for pre-launch testing are now underway, with all the work progressing orderly as planned. The mission is scheduled for launch in the second half of the year. The Chang'e-7 mission will employ a comprehensive exploration approach, including orbiting, landing, roving, and flyby, to study the environment and resources of the lunar south pole, while also carrying out international cooperation," said Zhang.
"Next, we plans to complete some key missions, including technical verification flights of the Long March-10 carrier rocket and maiden flights of the Mengzhou spacecraft and Lanyue lander. We will spare no effort to strive for the goal of achieving the first Chinese landing on the moon by 2030," he said.
The agency also disclosed the main tasks of the upcoming Shenzhou-23 manned spaceflight mission.
The Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceship is scheduled to be launched at 23:08 on Sunday (Beijing Time) at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. Chinese astronauts Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan and Lai Ka-ying will carry out the mission, and Zhu will be the commander.
Chang'e-7 lunar probe to be launched later in 2026
