Chang'e 7

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Chang'e 7
Mission typeOrbiter, Lander, lunar rover, hoping probe[1]
OperatorCNSA
Mission duration8 years (planned)[2]
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerCAST
Launch mass8,200 kg (18,100 lb)[2]
Start of mission
Launch date2026 (planned)[3]
RocketLong March 5
Launch siteWenchang
Moon lander
Landing sitePeak near the southeast ridge of Shackleton crater
88°48′S 123°24′E / 88.8°S 123.4°E / -88.8; 123.4[4]
 

Chang'e 7 (Chinese: 嫦娥七号; pinyin: Cháng'é qīhào) is a planned robotic Chinese lunar exploration mission expected to be launched in 2026 to target the lunar south pole. Like its predecessors, the spacecraft is named after the Chinese moon goddess Chang'e. The mission will include an orbiter, a lander, a mini-hopping probe, and a rover.[5]

Overview[edit]

The Chinese Lunar Exploration Program is designed to be conducted in four[6] phases of incremental technological advancement: The first is simply reaching lunar orbit, a task completed by Chang'e 1 in 2007 and Chang'e 2 in 2010. The second is landing and roving on the Moon, as Chang'e 3 did in 2013 and Chang'e 4 did in 2019 (The rover still being active as of 2023). The third is collecting lunar samples from the near-side and sending them to Earth, a task accomplished by Chang'e 5 in 2020 and to be met by the future Chang'e 6 mission. The fourth phase consists of development of a robotic research station near the Moon's south pole.[6][7][8] The program aims to facilitate a crewed lunar landing in the 2030s and possibly build an outpost near the lunar south pole.[9]

Scientific objectives[edit]

The official scientific objectives of Chang'e 7 mission are:[10]

  • Investigation and study of lunar surface environment and water ice in its soil.
  • High-precision investigation and study of morphology, composition and structure of the Moon.
  • Investigation and study of interior structure, magnetic field and thermal characteristics of the Moon.
  • General investigation and study of surface environment of the south pole of the Moon.
  • Moon-based observation and study of the Earth's magnetotail and plasmasphere.

Scientific payloads[edit]

Chang'e-7 will carry a total of 23 scientific payloads, with a total weight of 415 kg, aiming to conduct detailed exploration of the environment and resources in the south polar region of the moon. Mission objectives include fixed-point landings. In situ observations of the permanently shadowed crater will be made by the mini-hopping probe, which will carry water molecule and hydrogen isotope analyzers.[2][11]

Lunar Orbiter

  • High Resolution Stereo Mapping Camera
    • At an altitude of 100 km, the resolution of the lunar surface is better than 0.5 m, and the imaging width is greater than 18 km
  • Miniature Synthetic Aperture Radar
    • Imaging resolution better than 0.3 m
  • Wide Band Infrared Spectrum Mineral Imaging Analyzer
  • Lunar Neutron Gamma Spectrometer
  • Lunar Orbit Magnetometer

Lunar Lander

  • Landing Camera
  • Topography Camera
  • In-situ Measuring System of Volatiles and Istopes on Lunar Surface
  • Lunar Soil Section Thermal Current Measuring
  • Lunar Surface Thermometer
  • Extreme Ultraviolet Camera
  • Lunar Seismograph

Lunar Rover

  • Panoramic Camera
  • Rover Magnetometer
  • Lunar Penetrating Radar
  • Lunar Raman Spectrometer

Mini-Hopping Probe

  • Water Molecule and Hydrogen Isotope Analyzer

Test Payload

  • Lunar Soil Penetration Probe
  • Laser communication payload

Launch[edit]

The probe will be launched by a Long March 5 rocket in 2026, from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on Hainan Island.[3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "The Space Review: What is China doing at the lunar distant retrograde orbit?". www.thespacereview.com. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
  2. ^ a b c Yongliao Zou, Yang Liu, and Yingzhuo Jia. "OVERVIEW OF CHINA'S UPCOMING CHANG'E SERIES AND THE SCIENTIFC OBJECTIVES AND PAYLOADS For CHANG'E-7 MISSION" (PDF). 51st Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (2020). Retrieved 2023-08-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b Jones, Andrew (19 September 2022). "UAE rover to fly on China's Chang'e-7 lunar south pole mission". SpaceNews. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  4. ^ Philleafspace (2023-04-25). "Philleafspace" (in Simplified Chinese). weibo. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
  5. ^ Jones, Andrew (29 March 2022). "Next China moon mission will need precision landing to target ice at south pole". Space.com. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  6. ^ a b Chang'e 4 press conference. CNSA, broadcast on 14 January 2019.
  7. ^ China's Planning for Deep Space Exploration and Lunar Exploration before 2030. (PDF) XU Lin, ZOU Yongliao, JIA Yingzhuo. Space Sci., 2018, 38(5): 591-592. doi:10.11728/cjss2018.05.591
  8. ^ A Tentative Plan of China to Establish a Lunar Research Station in the Next Ten Years. Zou, Yongliao; Xu, Lin; Jia, Yingzhuo. 42nd COSPAR Scientific Assembly. Held 14–22 July 2018, in Pasadena, California, USA, Abstract id. B3.1-34-18.
  9. ^ Huang, Echo (26 April 2018). "China lays out its ambitions to colonize the moon and build a "lunar palace"". Quartz.
  10. ^ "Announcement of Opportunity Solicitating for Payloads onboard Chang'E-7 Mission" (PDF). CNSA. 22 September 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  11. ^ "月函〔2020〕号". 中国探月工程网. Archived from the original on 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2021-08-17. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

External links[edit]

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