Hey space fans! 🚀 Have you ever wondered what’s inside the Moon or if there’s water up there? Well, China has a cool mission coming up that might give us some answers!
China is planning to launch the Chang’e-7 mission around 2026. It’s named after the legendary Chinese Moon goddess, Chang’e. This mission is super exciting because it’s going to carry a special tool called a seismograph. But what does that do? Great question!
A seismograph is like a big “ear” that listens to the Moon’s shakes and quakes, which we call moonquakes! 🌕💥 By studying these moonquakes, scientists can learn what’s deep inside the Moon. Kind of like how doctors use X-rays to see inside our bodies!
But that’s not all! Chang’e-7 is also headed to the Moon’s south pole to look for something really important: water ice! 💧❄️ Scientists think there might be ice hidden in dark craters that never see sunlight. If we find water on the Moon, it could help astronauts live there in the future! How cool is that?
To search for water, the mission will use a special “hopper” spacecraft. Imagine a robot that can jump from one place to another! 🤖 It will “hop” into these shadowy craters and use a water molecule analyzer to check for ice.
The Chang’e-7 mission is full of new technologies. For example, it has solar panels that can catch sunlight even when it’s low in the sky near the lunar poles. Plus, the spacecraft can land safely on slopes and figure out where to land all by itself! Smart, right?
This mission is part of China’s ongoing exploration of the Moon. Previously, the Chang’e-5 mission brought back samples from the Moon’s near side. The upcoming Chang’e-6 mission aims to bring back samples from the far side. By comparing these samples, scientists hope to understand why the two sides of the Moon are so different.
So, get ready for more amazing discoveries about our closest neighbor in space! Who knows, maybe one day you’ll be part of a mission to the Moon too! 🌟
Reference(s):
China's Chang'e-7 to carry a seismograph, 2026 launch targeted
cgtn.com
