China Postpones Chang’e-7 Lunar Mission

The Chang’e-7 – carrying an orbiter, a lander, a rover and a hopper – was expected to lift off aboard a Long March 5 rocket from the Wenchang spaceport in southern China’s Hainan province as early as Monday.

The China Manned Space Agency said on Sunday evening that the mission would be postponed following a comprehensive assessment to adhere to principles of safety and reliability.

“Due to the target landing site on the lunar south pole, this makes for a very particular launch window in which the sun lined up just right for the lunar crater,” Narit said.

“A delay by a few days would mean postponing to the next launch window in a month at the earliest.”