China postpones Chang’e-7 moon mission after launch conditions unmet

China has postponed the launch of its unmanned Chang'e-7 Moon mission after a comprehensive assessment found it does not meet launch conditions. The probe and its Long March 5 rocket had already been transferred to the Wenchang Space Launch Centre in Hainan province last week. The China National Space Administration did not specify which conditions were unmet or give a revised launch date, citing a principle of prudence and reliability.

The delay comes less than two weeks after a rare launch failure at the same Wenchang site, where a Long March 7A rocket exploded carrying the Zhongxing-4B satellite. State news agency Xinhua said the cause of that failure remains under investigation. Chang'e-7 is designed to search for water at the Moon's south pole and is part of China's push to put astronauts on the Moon before 2030. The United States is pursuing a similar goal through its Artemis programme.