China delays Chang'e-7 Moon launch to 2027, citing need for 'absolute success'
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China's Manned Space program announced Sunday that the Chang'e-7 lunar mission will not launch during its planned window this year. The agency cited the need for 'absolute success' and said the mission does not meet launch conditions. The postponement likely pushes the South Pole landing mission into 2027.
Key Facts
- The Chang'e-7 mission was scheduled to launch from Wenchang Space Launch Site on a Long March 5 rocket as early as Aug. 23 Eastern time.
- Typhoon Narra, with 45-mph winds, is expected to linger near Hainan island for two to three days, likely causing the scrub.
- Social media chatter suggests the next suitable launch window may not open until February or March 2027.
- The mission includes an orbiter, lander, rover, and mini-hopper intended to land at the Moon's South Pole.
- The Long March 5 rocket shares the YF-100 engine with the Long March 7A vehicle that failed two weeks ago, though this is considered an unlikely cause.
Launch Delay Announcement
China's Manned Space program issued a terse announcement on Sunday regarding the Chang'e-7 lunar exploration mission. The agency stated that after a comprehensive assessment, the mission does not meet launch conditions and cannot be carried out during the planned window this year. The China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) announced the postponement, citing principles of prudence, reliability, and absolute safety. State media reported the announcement, repeating that the launch cannot take place during the planned window this year.
Weather and Launch Windows
Typhoon Narra, with 45-mph winds, continues to meander in the waterway separating Hainan island from mainland China. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center expects the storm to track in the area for the next two or three days, likely providing inclement weather at Wenchang. The presence of Typhoon Narra appears to have ended hopes of launch within a narrow window, having already pushed the launch back a day to Aug. 24 Eastern time. Social media chatter indicates another suitable launch window may not open until next February or March, due to sunlight conditions and the mission's 90-day lunar orbit reconnaissance plan.
Mission and Technical Factors
The Chang'e-7 mission consists of a lunar orbiter, lander, rover, and mini-hopper probe, intended to land at the Moon's South Pole. The spacecraft stack was rolled out atop its Long March 5 launch vehicle to the pad at Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on Aug. 19. The Long March 5 rocket shares the YF-100 engine with the Long March 7A vehicle that was lost during ascent two weeks ago. This engine issue seems unlikely to be the cause of the delay, as China had been proceeding toward launch in recent days.
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China delays Chang'e-7 Moon launch to 2027, citing need for 'absolute success'
