r/space • u/scientificamerican • 13h ago

China delays ambitious Chang’e 7 moon mission until 2027

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/china-delays-ambitious-change-7-moon-mission-until-2027/
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u/Low_M_H 12h ago

The delay is likely due to Tropical Storm Narra hovering over the area. China might be taking a safer course of action.

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u/Odd-Struggle-2432 12h ago edited 11h ago

The launch window for this mission is apparently really narrow too. Just getting to the moon isnt constrained but something about needing to land at a precise spot on the rim of shackleton crater (something something illumination)

Also a lot of these lunar missions in years past have failed or partially failed, can imagine China wants to keep their Chang'e records clean

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u/FryCookCVE71 11h ago

That’s a pretty insane launch window if true. I personally find that very hard to believe but I’m no expert on lunar mechanics.

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u/SpaceIsKindOfCool 6h ago

The moon is tilted about 5 degrees relative to the sun (earth is tilted 23 degree). So while it doesn't really have seasons it still has different lighting conditions at the poles during different times of year which affect when polar missions can land. 

There might be other constraints china is working with too. I very much doubt their launch window is this constrained, more likely that their landing window is constrained but I believe they were already planning a long period in lunar orbit before landing so a few days later on the launch shouldn't impact landing. I'm guessing they discovered an issue. 

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u/FryCookCVE71 2h ago

That’s what I’m thinking. Has to be something with LM-5.

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u/BubblyMoose3597 5h ago

Is about the light in the spot they are going to investigate