New Setback Hits Chinese Space Program, as Chang’e-7 Lunar Mission Gets Postponed Until Next Year
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The mission would search for water on the dark side of the moon.
Around two weeks ago, the previously reliable ‘Long March 7A’, China’s ‘workhorse’ rocket, exploded soon after liftoff, something that hasn’t happened since the very first launch in 2020.
Now, compounding on the setbacks befalling the Chinese Space Program, China is postponing its ambitious Chang’e-7 lunar mission.
The Chang’e 7 was set to carry out explorations, including searching for water ice on the moon.
China delays Chang’e-7 lunar south pole landing mission launch https://t.co/EYefuQj0kb pic.twitter.com/S2OhSBDgo2
— SpaceNews (@SpaceNews_Inc) August 23, 2026
Politico reported:
“The Chang’e-7 spacecraft was originally set to lift off in the coming days from the Wenchang Space Launch Site on China’s southern Hainan island.
The mission does not meet the launch conditions, said the China Manned Space Agency in a brief statement, and ‘cannot take place during the planned window this year’.”
China has delayed its ambitious ice-hunting Chang’e 7 mission to the moon’s south pole due to a brewing storm near the launch site. A new target date has not been announced. https://t.co/SCjKxbzB5P
— SPACE.com (@SPACEdotcom) August 23, 2026
It’s reported that Typhoon Narra has caused severe flooding around southern China and forced 55,000 evacuations – contributing to the delay of the Chang’e 7 lunar mission.
“The decision was made following a ‘comprehensive assessment’, the agency added, and was based on the principles of ‘prudence, reliability and absolute mission success’. It did not further elaborate on the reasons behind the decision.
Preparations have been carried out at the Wenchang launch site for the Chang’e-7 mission over the past weeks, the seventh in the Chang’e moon exploration program. It aimed at making breakthroughs in key technologies, the official Xinhua news agency previously reported.”
China’s Chang’e-7 lunar probe does not meet launch conditions, and its launch therefore cannot take place during the planned window this year, the China Manned Space Agency said Sunday.
The assessment was conducted following the principle of prudence, reliability and absolute… pic.twitter.com/QW1mV5hNbV
— China Science (@ChinaScience) August 24, 2026
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