2024-07-28 15:33:00
One might wonder what China could improve for its next Chang’e mission, or if it has validated all the capabilities leading to eventually bringing astronauts to the lunar surface. But in reality, the work is not finished. The next mission, Chang’e 7, will not bring back samples and will be directed towards the lunar South Pole, on the edges of the Shackleton crater.
Launching in 2026, it will first carry an orbiter, which will be capable of remaining in low orbit for several months or even years to conduct measurements at the poles. Subsequently, a lander will detach from it and will need to land with great precision. Indeed, the Shackleton crater is mostly in eternal shadow, so the edges will need to be targeted. This is part of the challenge of Chang’e 7, which will carry several surface study instruments to assess the area, as well as a rover and a “hopper,” meaning a bouncing robot that will move in a series of jumps lasting from a few seconds to a few minutes above the surface.