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Enoch Wong

China plans to deploy a smart robotic “flying detector” to search for water on the lunar south pole as part of its Chang’e-7 mission next year – one step in the nation’s goal of landing humans on the moon in five years.
Chinese space experts revealed the plans for the flying robot in interviews with state broadcaster CCTV on Monday. They also confirmed the lunar mission would play a pivotal role in laying the groundwork for a future research station on the moon.
The Chang’e-7 mission will consist of an orbiter, a lander, a lunar rover and the flying detector. Upon landing, the rover, lander and detector will work together to carry out the most detailed survey of the moon’s south pole to date.
Tang Yuhua, deputy chief designer of the Chang’e-7 mission, described the flying detector as an “extremely smart robot”.
“It can land reliably and repeatedly on different slopes, much like how a human bends their legs when jumping from a height,” Tang said.
“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 designed to climb, crawl, jump, and fly using rocket propulsion, allowing it to explore rugged terrain and deep craters beyond the reach of traditional wheeled rovers.
Unlike conventional rovers, which are limited to a range of just a few kilometres around their landing sites, the flying detector can travel dozens of kilometres in a single leap, according to the paper.
Its multi-legged design will help it navigate the uneven lunar surface, allowing Chang’e-7 to reach areas of the moon that never receive sunlight and where ice might be found.
The flying detector’s rocket-powered system enables it to operate in the moon’s airless environment. Its boxlike body houses four fuel tanks and a ring of small thrusters, allowing it to take off and land at different locations.
After arriving on the moon, the detector is expected to perform at least three powered leaps before switching to solar power for extended surface exploration, according to the 2023 paper.
When its fuel is depleted, the robotic explorer can use a solar panel on its back to generate energy. The probe is also equipped with a camera, a robotic arm, and scientific instruments to analyse the lunar environment, according to the paper.


Wu Weiren, chief designer of China’s lunar exploration programme, said the moon’s south pole was a prime location for searching 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 said in an interview with CCTV.
Water is essential for sustaining a long-term human presence on the moon. If found there, it could significantly reduce the cost of future space missions. Instead of transporting water from Earth, scientists hope to extract and use frozen lunar water for drinking, oxygen production and rocket fuel.
Tang said lunar water differed from water on Earth.
“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 said.
According to space experts, lunar water is believed to originate from three sources: residual water from the moon’s formation, comet and asteroid impacts, and chemical reactions between solar winds and lunar soil.
However, much of the moon’s water evaporates due to solar radiation. Only permanently shadowed craters at the poles are capable of preserving significant ice deposits, making them key targets for exploration.
The mission will also test technologies and conditions for long-term lunar habitation.
In 2028, China plans to launch the Chang’e-8 mission, which will work alongside Chang’e-7 to establish an automated moon exploration network, paving the way for crewed lunar missions by 2030.


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Science

China’s Chang’e-7 mission to send flying robot to moon’s south pole to look for water

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China

‘Extremely smart’ explorer will search for ice on lunar surface and help carry out detailed survey of polar region, space experts say


‘Extremely smart’ explorer will search for ice on lunar surface and help carry out detailed survey of polar region, space experts say.


China's space programme

Space