China Space

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, the combination of the Chang'e-7 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y14 carrier rocket is transferred vertically to the launching area at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in southern China's Hainan Province on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026 .

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China abruptly postpones ambitious Chang’e-7 lunar mission launch

China abruptly postpones ambitious Chang’e-7 lunar mission launch

China has postponed its planned ambitious Chang’e-7 lunar mission. The mission was set to search for water ice on the moon. The spacecraft was scheduled to lift off in the coming days from the Wenchang Space Launch Site on China's southern Hainan island. In a brief statement, the China Manned Space Agency says the mission does not meet the launch conditions and cannot take place during the planned window this year. Preparations had been underway at the launch site for weeks. The Chang’e moon exploration program is named after a Chinese moon goddess and this is the seventh in the program.