China puts off Chang’e-7 mission to lunar south pole

Historic mission to drill for ice was set to lift off as early as Monday

China’s historic Chang’e-7 mission to drill for ice near the moon’s south pole has been delayed, the country’s human space flight programme authority said on Sunday.

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

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

“The Chang’e-7 mission does not meet the launch conditions and cannot be carried out within the scheduled launch window this year,” state news agency Xinhua reported, citing the agency.