Chang'e 8
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] OverviewChina 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 areasWang 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 objectivesIn 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]
International CollaborationThe 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 Pakistan Asif 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 instrumentsCurrently, the science payloads on the mission include the following:[1][5] CNSA instrumentsLander
Rover
International PayloadsSource:[2]
See alsoReferences
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