China Rolls Chang'e-7 to Wenchang Pad Ahead of Lunar South Pole Launch

China has moved the Chang'e-7 lunar probe and its Long March-5 Y14 carrier rocket to the launch area at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan Province, clearing a major step toward liftoff. The China Manned Space Agency said the mission is scheduled for launch at an appropriate time and will target the lunar south pole.

The vertical transfer took place Wednesday. The probe and rocket arrived at the launch site in April and July respectively, and have since completed assembly and testing.

The CMSA said all facilities and equipment at the launch site are in good condition. Functional checks, a joint test, and propellant filling will be carried out before the launch as scheduled.

The Chang'e-7 mission aims to achieve breakthroughs in multiple key technologies, including high-precision soft landing on the lunar surface, legged movements, hopping, and exploration of permanently shadowed craters. The CMSA said the mission will use a comprehensive detection approach involving orbiting, landing, roving, and hopping to conduct environmental and resource surveys of the lunar south pole. The mission will also involve international cooperation.

According to the CMSA, the combination was transferred vertically to the launching area at Wenchang on August 19, 2026, marking the transition from integration and testing into the final pre-launch campaign.

The CMSA states that Chang'e-7 is designed to survey the environment and resources of the lunar south pole and to demonstrate new exploration capabilities, including the ability to investigate permanently shadowed craters through hopping and legged movement.

The next steps named by the CMSA are the functional checks, the joint test, and propellant filling, all to be completed before launch. No specific launch date has been announced.