Scientific objectives and payload configuration of the Chang'E-7 mission

• Published in: National Science Review
• Main Authors: Wang, Chi, Jia, Yingzhuo, Xue, Changbin, Lin, Yangting, Liu, Jianzhong, Fu, Xiaohui, Xu, Lin, Huang, Yun, Zhao, Yufen, Xu, Yigang, Gao, Rui, Wei, Yong, Tang, Yuhua, Yu, Dengyun, Zou, Yongliao
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: OXFORD UNIV PRESS 2024
• Subjects: Science & Technology - Other Topics; Chang'E-7; scientific objectives; scientific payloads; Multidisciplinary Sciences; Shackleton; South Pole; South pole
• Online Access: http://ir.gig.ac.cn/handle/344008/76986; https://doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwad329

As the cornerstone mission of the fourth phase of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program, Chang'E-7 (CE-7) was officially approved, and implementation started in 2022, including a main probe and a communication relay satellite. The main probe, consisting of an orbiter, a lander, a rover and a mini-flying probe, is scheduled to be launched in 2026. The lander will land on Shackleton crater's illuminated rim near the lunar south pole, along with the rover and mini-flying probe. The relay satellite (named Queqiao-2) will be launched in February 2024 as an independent mission to support relay communication during scientific exploration undertaken by Chang'E-4, the upcoming Chang'E-6 in 2024 and subsequent lunar missions. The CE-7 mission is mainly aimed at scientific and resource exploration of the lunar south pole. We present CE-7's scientific objectives, the scientific payloads configuration and the main functions for each scientific payload with its key technical specifications. This review provides an overview on the scientific tasks of Chang'E-7 mission in the fourth phase of China's Lunar Exploration Project, puts forward scientific objectives based on key scientific issues in lunar exploration focusing on the south pole, conducts the analysis of scientific requirements, and completes the system design of the scientific payload.