China Postpones Chang’e‑7 Lunar Ice‑Drilling Mission

China’s Chang’e‑7 mission, which was slated to lift off Monday from Wenchang on a Long March 5 rocket, has been delayed by the China Manned Space Agency. The four‑component spacecraft—an orbiter, lander, rover and hopper—was designed to drill for water ice near the Moon’s south pole. The agency said the postponement follows a comprehensive assessment aimed at ensuring compliance with established principles, though it did not specify the new launch date. The delay pushes back China’s timetable for gathering critical data on lunar polar ice, a resource that could support future human and robotic exploration of the Moon.