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Chang'e 8

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Chang'e 8
Mission typeLander, lunar rover, robot[1]
OperatorCNSA
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerCAST
Start of mission
Launch date2028 (planned)[1]
RocketLong March 5
Launch siteWenchang
Moon lander
Landing siteShackleton-de Gerlache ridge, or
Leibnitz Beta, or
Amundsen (crater), or
Cabeus (crater)[1][2]
← Chang'e 7
ILRS-1 →

Chang'e 8 (Chinese: 嫦娥八号; pinyin: Cháng'é báhào) is a planned robotic mission by China to explore the lunar south pole and to establish the technical predicate for the future International Lunar Research Station (ILRS). The mission is expected to launch in 2028 and will include a lander, a rover, and a robot.[1][3]

Overview

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China intends to launch the Chang'e 8 mission as part of its plan to construct the International Lunar Research Station during the 2030s. Chang'e 8 will follow in the footsteps of the Chang'e 7 mission, planned for 2026, and continue the latter mission's physical investigation of the lunar south pole region while pursuing new experiments such as in-situ resource utilization, which will include testing the feasilibity of 3D-printing "bricks" using lunar soil while on the lunar surface.[4][2] The mission will serve as the basis for a larger scale robotic and crewed lunar research station during the ensuing decade.[1]

The mission will include 200 kilograms of "piggyback" payload capacity available for international instruments. CNSA has set December 31, 2023 as the deadline for the submission of letters of intent by interested parties to contribute payloads to the mission.[5]

Starvision Aerospace Group Limited, a Chinese commercial satellite design and data analysis company, Zhejiang University, and Turkiye's Middle East Technical University also will jointly develop two 5-kilogram micro-robots for the mission in order to facilitate lunar surface exploration. In addition, the mission will feature a larger 100-kilogram roving robot to delpoy and install instruments and to otherwise explore the lunar surface; the development of this larger robot is being led by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and involves several Chinese Universities, the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, and the South African National Space Agency.[6]

Potential landing areas

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Wang Qiong, deputy chief designer of the Chang'e-8 mission, indicated possible lunar south pole landing areas include the following regions: Leibnitz Beta, Amundsen crater, Cabeus crater, and the ridge connecting the Shackleton and de Gerlache craters.[1] In April 2025, media report suggests that CNSA has narrowed its site selection focus to a plateau near Mons Mouton, also known as Leibnitz Beta, near the lunar south pole.[2]

Scientific objectives

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In the October 2023 document that accompanied CNSA's announcement of international cooperation opportunities for the Chang'e-8 mission, the following mission aims are listed:[5]

  • Detection and research of multiple physical fields at the lunar surface
  • Detection and research of the geologic profiles at the landing region
  • Moon-based observation of Earth's atmospheric energy-balance and of Earth's magnetosphere
  • Experiment and research on lunar in-situ sample analyses and in-situ resource utilization
  • Experiment and research employing an enclosed mini-terrestrial-ecosystem on the lunar surface

International Collaboration

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The Chang'e-8 mission has offered 200kg (440lb) of payload capacity for interested countries.[7][8]

In an MoU signed on February 5th, 2025 by President of PakistanAsif Ali Zardari, and President of China, Xi Jinping, Pakistan will launch its first Lunar Rover aboard the Chang'e-8 mission as a part of the wider ILSR program. Reportedly, SUPARCO will provide a 35-kilogram rover for lunar exploration.[9][10]

On 24 April 2025, CNSA announced the selection of several collaborative projects with 11 international partners for inclusion on the Chang'e-8 mission; these international partners include national and regional organizations.[2]

Mission instruments

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Currently, the science payloads on the mission include the following:[1][5]

CNSA instruments

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Lander

  • Landing Camera
  • Topography Cameras
  • Lunar Seismometer
  • Lunar Low Frequency Electromagnetic Field Detector
  • Lunar Regolith Heat Flow Meter
  • Moon-based Earth Radiometer
  • Moon-based Earth Multispectral Imager
  • Soft X-ray Telescope
  • Mini Terrestrial Ecological Experimental Device
  • In-situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) Testing Device; including 3D-printing of "bricks" using lunar soil[4][2]

Rover

  • Panoramic Camera
  • Ground Penetrating Radar
  • Infrared Spectrum Mineral Analyzer
  • In-situ Lunar Sample Analysis and Storage Device

International Payloads[2]

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  • Lunar surface multi-functional operation robot and mobile charging station (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
  • Pakistan lunar rover (Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission of Pakistan (SUPARCO) and the International Society for Terrain-Vehicle Systems)
  • Intelligent exploration robot for challenging environments (two micro-rovers) (Middle East Technical University of Turkey, in partnership with Zhejiang University and commercial company Star.Vision)
  • Radio astronomy array (South African Radio Astronomy Observatory and the National Commission for Aerospace Research and Development of Peru)
  • Laser corner reflector array (National Institute for Nuclear Physics–Frascati National Laboratories, Italy)
  • Lunar plasma-dust environment sensor and the lunar ion and high-energy neutral particle analyzer (Russian Federal Space Agency and the Russian State Space Corporation)
  • Lunar neutron analyzer (Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation of Thailand and the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand)
  • Visible and infrared imaging system for the lunar surface (Bahrain National Space Science Agency and the Egyptian Space Agency)
  • Lunar potential monitor (Iranian Space Agency)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ abcdefgJones, Andrew (2 October 2023). "China outlines Chang'e-8 resource utilization mission to the lunar south pole". spacenews.com. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  2. ^ abcdefJones, Andrew (25 April 2025). "China selects international payloads for Chang'e-8 lunar south pole mission". spacenews.com. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  3. ^"嫦娥七号、嫦娥八号将组成我国月球科研站基本型--经济·科技--人民网". finance.people.com.cn. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  4. ^ abJones, Andrew (9 September 2024). "China is taking a keen interest in lava tubes as possible lunar habitats". spacenews.com. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  5. ^ abc"嫦娥八号任务国际合作机遇公告"(pdf). 中国国家航天局. 2023-10-02. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  6. ^Jones, Andrew (27 January 2025). "China embraces commercial participation in moon mission for the first time". spacenews.com. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
  7. ^"Pakistan Joins China's Lunar Mission For Exploring Moon's South Pole". www.ndtv.com. Retrieved 2025-02-08.
  8. ^"China offers more space for foreign equipment on future moon mission". South China Morning Post. 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2025-02-08.
  9. ^"Pakistan's lunar rover ready for moon landing aboard Chang'e-8 mission". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 2025-02-08.
  10. ^"Pakistan Joins China's Lunar Mission For Exploring Moon's South Pole". www.ndtv.com. Retrieved 2025-02-08.
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