Probe to look for water on moon

Chang'e 7 robotic mission to search for ice and survey south pole landforms

China plans to send its Chang'e 7 robotic probe to search for water and other resources at the moon's south pole, according to a leading space scientist.

"The Chang'e 7 mission is set to find traces of ice at the south pole, investigate the environment and weather there, and survey its landforms," said Wu Weiren, chief designer of China's lunar exploration program and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. "It will also be tasked with detecting the natural resources beneath the south pole's surface. Moreover, mission planners are considering if we can use the probe to dig into the surface to check the underground structures and compositions."

Wu was speaking on the sidelines of the fifth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, which opened in Beijing on Friday. He is also a member of the CPPCC National Committee, the top political advisory body in China.