China is advancing preparations for a key mission in its lunar exploration program. The Long March-5 Y14 rocket, which will launch the Chang’e-7 lunar probe, has arrived at the launch complex in Wenchang, Hainan Province, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
At the launch site, engineers will carry out the rocket’s final assembly and a series of integrated system tests together with the Chang’e-7 spacecraft, which was delivered to the spaceport in April. The mission is scheduled to launch in the second half of 2026.
The primary objective of Chang’e-7 is to explore the Moon’s south pole. The mission will test several advanced technologies, including precision soft landing, surface mobility using walking and hopping mechanisms, and the exploration of permanently shadowed craters that may contain deposits of water ice.
The mission will also conduct environmental and resource investigations using an orbiter, a lunar lander, and mobile exploration platforms. In addition, Chang’e-7 includes international scientific cooperation, helping to expand lunar research capabilities and support future exploration missions.
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