The Hunt for Lunar Water at the South Pole.

China's next major robotic moon mission, Chang’e 7, is officially on track for a launch in late 2026. This ambitious mission is designed to land near the Shackleton Crater at the lunar south pole a region of permanent shadow believed to contain water ice. The mission is unique because it features an array of five different crafts: an orbiter, a lander, a rover, a satellite, and a specialized hopper probe designed to fly into shadowed craters to measure ice directly. This serves as a critical stepping stone for the planned International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), a long-term lunar base project being built in collaboration with several international partners.

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