China’s Chang’e 7 Eyes Lunar South Pole Ahead of 2030 Moon Landing
China’s Chang’e-7 mission, a multi-hop robotic expedition featuring an orbiter, lander, rover and a hopping spacecraft with international instruments, is targeting an Aug. 24, 2026 launch to the Moon’s south pole near Shackleton Crater. The mission will perform integrated orbital, landing, roaming and hopping operations to study the lunar environment and resources (including potential water ice), test new tech such as an image navigation system, and lay groundwork for a future crewed lunar landing by 2030 and the broader International Lunar Research Station with international partners.