According to the report, the probe features a new hopper module equipped with a water molecule analyzer designed to verify the presence and extent of water ice in craters that never receive sunlight.
Earlier missions such as Chang'e 3 and Chang'e 5 landed on the moon's near side, while Chang'e 4 and Chang'e 6 achieved successful touchdowns on the far side. With Chang'e 7, Chinese engineers aim to demonstrate the capability to land on any sector of the moon, said Tang Yuhua, deputy chief designer of the mission, during an interview.
Tang noted that uncovering usable water ice on the lunar surface would drastically lower costs and logistical hurdles tied to transporting water from Earth. This advance could expedite plans for a permanent base on the moon and support future journeys to Mars or other deep-space targets.
Wu Weiren, chief designer of China's lunar exploration program, stated that the Chang'e 7 probe will consist of an orbiter, a lander, a rover, and a mobile hopper. All of these components must endure frigid conditions of below minus 100 degrees Celsius, coupled with rugged topography.
The hopper, touted as a pioneering lunar platform, will "jump" from sunlit areas into shadowed craters to gather detailed data. The lander will deploy China's first deep-space "landmark image navigation" system to achieve precise positioning, while the hopper employs active shock-absorption mechanisms to handle steep inclines, said the report.
Tang added that more than half of the probe's tasks will be carried out autonomously without real-time oversight from mission control. The vertically mounted solar arrays will be optimized to capture low-angle sunlight near the lunar pole. He confirmed that the mission is now in final assembly and testing.
Related Links
Lunar Exploration and Space Program
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