China Calls Off Moon Shot Just Before Launch
China has called off the Chang’e 7 launch a day before it was due to fly, stating that the mission does not meet the required launch conditions, according to a brief statement from its Manned Space Agency. The next launch window may not open until February.
The Mission and Its Aims
The announcement follows a thorough assessment made in line with the agency’s principle of meticulous and reliable proceedings. Chang’e 7, which comprises an orbiter, lander, wheeled rover, and small hopper, was prepared for liftoff at the Wenchang launch site on Hainan Island in the South China Sea.
The Ambitious Plan
This mission aimed to make breakthroughs in key technologies, including a precision autonomous landing, exploring lunar craters for ice, and surviving extreme lunar nights. The orbiter would relay data back home, while the rover and hopper would explore regions near Shackleton Crater at the Moon’s south pole—an area believed to hold water ice deposits.
Delayed Due To:
The launch was cancelled without the agency providing a specific reason. However, several factors could have contributed:
- Weather Conditions: Typhoon Narra, located between Hainan and mainland China, might have influenced the decision. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center predicted the storm’s persistence in the region for several days.
- Engine Issues: A previous failure of a Long March 7A two weeks prior, using the same YF-100 engine, could have raised concerns about potential engine problems.
Professor Richard de Grijs’ Perspective
Richard de Grijs, an astrophysics professor at Macquarie University in Australia, noted that Chang’e 7 marks a transition from lunar exploration to assessing the Moon’s resources for potential utilization. He emphasized that Chinese scientists are not primarily searching for water but rather understanding its distribution and accessibility.