China’s space agency announced on Sunday that the Chang’e-7 lunar mission has been delayed, citing a comprehensive technical assessment that found the uncrewed probe did not meet the necessary conditions for launch within the planned 2026 window.
The decision was disclosed by state news agency Xinhua, citing officials in Beijing. The spacecraft, named after a mythical Chinese moon goddess, was previously expected to launch as early as the following week, according to prior reports.
Chang’e-7’s primary objective was to conduct a search for frozen water near the Moon’s south pole, a region of growing scientific interest due to its potential to support future lunar exploration and resource utilization. The mission’s postponement follows a review process that officials described as thorough, though no additional timeline for the revised launch window was provided in the announcement.
