Kathmandu— China is preparing to launch its seventh lunar mission, Chang’e-7, with the goal of investigating water ice deposits in the permanently shadowed craters near the moon's south pole. The unmanned, robotic mission—comprising an orbiter, lander, rover, and a novel ‘hopper’—is scheduled for liftoff between August 24th and August 31st. This ambitious undertaking seeks to determine the location, depth, and accessibility of lunar water ice, which could be crucial for future crewed missions and potentially unlock clues about the origins of Earth's oceans. The mission builds on previous discoveries by NASA and India’s Chandrayaan-3, while also learning from Russia’s failed Luna-25 attempt.

Mission Components and Objectives

The Chang’e-7 spacecraft consists of four main components: an orbiter that will map the lunar surface and relay communications, a lander designed to touch down near Shackleton Crater, a rover for analyzing local rocks and soil, and a unique hopper. The hopper is a solar-powered robotic craft capable of short ‘hops’ or flights across the lunar surface, allowing it to access areas unreachable by traditional rovers. This mission aims to expand on existing knowledge about lunar water ice, specifically pinpointing its location, depth, form, and potential for extraction.

Evidence of Lunar Water Ice

While scientists have speculated about the presence of water on the moon since the 1960s, definitive evidence emerged in recent decades. In 2009, NASA’s deliberate impact of a rocket segment into a shadowed lunar crater confirmed the existence of significant ice water. Further analysis in 2020 revealed that water molecules are encapsulated within mineral grains on the lunar surface and likely exist as hidden ice patches in permanently shadowed regions—areas near the moon's poles where sunlight hasn't reached for billions of years. India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission in 2023 also provided critical new evidence of water on the south pole through soil temperature readings.

Importance of Lunar Water Resources

The discovery and study of lunar water ice are vital for several reasons. Ancient polar ice may contain a record of lunar volcanic activity and provide insights into how water was delivered to the Earth-moon system, potentially shedding light on the origins of our planet’s oceans. Furthermore, accessible lunar water could serve as a crucial resource for future crewed missions, providing drinking water, cooling equipment, and even fuel—hydrogen extracted from the ice could power rockets, while oxygen could be used for breathing.

Legal Framework and Recent Missions

The 1967 United Nations Outer Space Treaty prohibits nations from claiming sovereignty over the moon. While it doesn't explicitly ban commercial operations, it requires state authorization and supervision of private activities, leaving questions about resource ownership unresolved. Prior to Chang’e-7, Russia’s Luna-25 mission in 2023 failed after spinning out of control and crashing during its attempt to reach the south pole. Simultaneously, India's Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed and discovered evidence of water ice.

Challenges of South Pole Exploration

Exploring the moon’s south pole presents significant challenges due to its rugged terrain, characterized by numerous craters and deep trenches. The region is also considerably farther from the equatorial areas targeted by previous missions, including the Apollo landings. Chang'e-7’s hopper is specifically designed to overcome these obstacles, enabling access to the difficult-to-reach shadowed craters.

The launch window for Chang’e-7 opens on August 24th and extends through August 31st, with scientists eagerly awaiting data that could revolutionize our understanding of lunar resources and pave the way for future space exploration.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.