China is preparing to launch Chang'e-7, one of its most ambitious lunar missions, with the aim of investigating water ice and other resources near the Moon's south pole. The mission is expected to launch later in August 2026, although the precise date remains uncertain following a recent failure involving another Chinese rocket. Chang'e-7 will combine an orbiter, lander, rover and an unusual hopping vehicle. Its likely destination is an illuminated ridge near Shackleton crater in the Moon's South Pole-Aitken region. The hopper is particularly significant because it is designed to navigate difficult terrain and enter permanently shadowed craters, where conventional wheeled rovers may struggle to operate. These craters have remained in darkness for billions of years and can reach temperatures below –200C. Scientists already have strong evidence that water exists in the lunar polar regions. Chang'e-7 is therefore not simply looking for water, but trying to establish where it is located, how deeply it is buried, its form and concentration, and whether it could realistically be extracted and used by future explorers. The mission forms part of China's longer-term lunar exploration programme. Chang'e-8, potentially launching in 2028, is expected to investigate how lunar resources could be used. Future crewed missions could eventually contribute to the proposed International Lunar Research Station, being developed with Russia. The United States is pursuing a related goal through NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services programme, which contracts private companies to deliver instruments and technology to the Moon. Together, these efforts reflect a shift in lunar exploration: from simply reaching the Moon towards developing the technology and knowledge needed for sustained human activity there.

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