The launch of China’s long-awaited lunar mission Chang’e 7 has been postponed due to unfavorable weather conditions. The ship, which was destined for the south pole of the Moon, had its departure schedule changed for an indefinite period of time, with no new date defined so far.
The shipment of China’s latest lunar probe has been significantly delayed because of inclement weather.
Information indicates that the formation of Tropical Depression Narra in the Gulf of Tonkin caused the Chinese space agency to postpone the launch of Chang’e 7, with the possibility of the mission only taking place in 2027.
“The Chinese lunar probe Chang’e 7 does not meet the launch conditions and therefore its launch cannot take place in the planned window this year,” state news agency Xinhua stated on August 23, citing the China Manned Space Agency.
The Chang’e 7 mission was initially scheduled to depart on August 23, departing from the Wenchang Space Launch Center, located on the island of Hainan. However, Tropical Depression Narra began to develop west of the island, in the Gulf of Tonkin.
Conducting a rocket launch during a thunderstorm is considered inappropriate. Chinese space authorities, after a first postponement, determined that August 24 would also not be viable for takeoff.
Currently, the exact launch date of Chang’e 7 remains uncertain, and communications on the topic have traditionally been vague. China, unlike agencies such as NASA or the European Space Agency, maintains a high level of secrecy about its space operations.
The takeoff of the Chang’e 7 probe requires a specific orbital alignment between the Earth and the Moon, which prevents the launch from taking place as soon as weather conditions in Wenchang improve. Some sources on the internet suggest the possibility of the mission departing in September, while the news from Xinhua points to a launch forecast in 2027.
