Chang'e 8
Chinese robotic precursor for the International Lunar Research Station.
China's Chang'e 8, a robotic mission slated for 2028-29, aims to explore the lunar south pole. It will carry a lander, a rover, and a robot, laying the groundwork for the future International Lunar Research Station.
Quick Facts
- Operator
- CNSA
- Manufacturer
- CAST
- Launched
- 2028-29 (planned)
- Launch rocket
- Long March 5
- Launch site
- Wenchang
- Programme
- Chinese Lunar Exploration Program
Facts from the source article.
Overview
China's Chang'e 8 mission is scheduled to launch as part of the broader effort to build the International Lunar Research Station in the 2030s. Following the Chang'e 7 mission, planned for 2026, Chang'e 8 will continue studying the physical environment of the lunar south pole while also conducting new experiments, including in-situ resource utilization. This will involve testing whether lunar soil can be used to 3D-print bricks directly on the Moon's surface. The mission is intended to lay the groundwork for a larger robotic and crewed lunar research station in the following decade. Chang'e 8 will carry up to 200 kilograms of payload capacity for international instruments, and the China National Space Administration set a December 31, 2023 deadline for interested parties to submit letters of intent for contributing payloads. A Chinese commercial satellite firm, Starvision Aerospace Group Limited, along with Zhejiang University and Turkiye's Middle East Technical University, will jointly develop two 5-kilogram micro-robots to assist with lunar surface exploration. Additionally, a larger 100-kilogram roving robot will be built to deploy and install instruments and explore the surface. This larger robot's development is led by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, with participation from several Chinese universities, the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, and the South African National Space Agency.
International Collaboration
China's Chang'e-8 mission is reserving 200 kilograms of payload space for international partners. On February 5, 2025, Pakistan's space agency SUPARCO and the China National Space Administration signed a memorandum of understanding. Under this deal, Pakistan will send its first lunar rover, weighing 35 kilograms, aboard Chang'e-8 as part of the broader International Lunar Research Station program. Later, on April 24, 2025, CNSA revealed that it had chosen multiple collaborative projects from 11 international partners, including national and regional agencies, to fly on the mission.
More in Space Probes of ESA, Japan, China, India and the USSR
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced