China's Chang’e-7 mission, set for 2024, aims to deploy a cutting-edge robotic "flying detector" to explore the moon's south pole, advancing its goal of a human lunar landing by 2030. The mission includes an orbiter, lander, rover, and the detector, designed to leap across rugged terrains and shadowed craters, potentially discovering frozen water. This innovative robot, powered by rockets and solar energy, will analyze lunar resources, laying the groundwork for a research station and future crewed missions.
China is taking a significant leap in its lunar exploration efforts with plans to deploy a sophisticated robotic "flying detector" as part of its Chang’e-7 mission in 2024. This innovative step is a vital milestone toward the country’s ambitious goal of landing humans on the moon within the next five years.
Details of the flying detector were shared by Chinese space experts during interviews with state broadcaster CCTV. They emphasized that the Chang’e-7 mission would play a critical role in preparing for the establishment of a future research station on the moon.
The Chang’e-7 mission will feature an orbiter, a lander, a lunar rover, and the flying detector. Once on the lunar surface, these components will work in unison to conduct the most comprehensive survey of the moon’s south pole to date.
Describing the flying detector, Tang Yuhua, deputy chief designer of the mission, said it is an “extremely smart robot.” Tang explained, “It can land reliably and repeatedly on different slopes, much like how a human bends their legs when jumping from a height. Additionally, it uses leg trajectory planning and joint-driven movement to navigate the lunar surface.”
According to a 2023 research paper by the China Academy of Space Technology and the Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering, the six-legged flying detector is engineered to climb, crawl, jump, and fly using rocket propulsion. This unique design enables it to traverse rugged terrains and explore deep craters that are inaccessible to traditional wheeled rovers. Unlike conventional rovers, which are limited to a few kilometers around their landing sites, this advanced robot can cover distances of several dozen kilometers in a single leap.
The detector’s multi-legged design is optimized for navigating the moon’s uneven surface. It is expected to reach permanently shadowed areas where sunlight never penetrates—prime locations for discovering ice deposits. Its rocket-powered propulsion system is tailored for the moon’s airless environment, with a boxlike body housing four fuel tanks and a ring of small thrusters for precise takeoffs and landings.
Upon arrival, the flying detector is projected to perform at least three powered leaps. After exhausting its fuel, it will switch to solar power for extended surface exploration. Equipped with a camera, robotic arm, and scientific instruments, the detector will analyze the lunar environment comprehensively.
Wu Weiren, the chief designer of China’s lunar exploration program, highlighted the importance of the moon’s south pole in the search for frozen water. “There are permanently shadowed craters where water could exist in frozen form. We hope our flying detector will enter at least one to two of these craters and confirm the presence of ice,” he stated.
Water is a crucial resource for sustaining long-term human presence on the moon. If confirmed, lunar ice could significantly reduce the cost of future space missions by eliminating the need to transport water from Earth. Instead, this frozen water could be used for drinking, oxygen production, and even rocket fuel.
Tang explained that lunar water differs significantly from Earth’s water. “Most of it exists as single water molecules or hydroxyl compounds within lunar soil. It’s not in liquid form, making extraction difficult. Finding regions with higher concentrations of frozen water is critical for future lunar development,” she noted.
According to experts, lunar water likely originates from residual water during the moon’s formation, impacts by comets and asteroids, and chemical reactions between solar winds and lunar soil.
However, much of this water evaporates due to solar radiation, leaving only permanently shadowed craters at the poles as potential reservoirs of significant ice deposits. These craters are key targets for exploration.
The Chang’e-7 mission will also pave the way for testing technologies and conditions necessary for long-term lunar habitation. Following this, the Chang’e-8 mission, planned for 2028, will collaborate with Chang’e-7 to establish an automated lunar exploration network. Together, these missions will set the stage for China’s first crewed lunar landing by 2030.
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