China intends to send a flying robot on the distant side of next year to look for water, which could have the key to future monthly exploration.
Chinese monthly probe Chang’e-7, scheduled for launch in 2026 Photo: X
robotsTul “flying detector“It will be sent to the South Pole of the Moon as part of the Chang’E-7 mission of China, which aims to bring the country closer to the landing of astronauts on the month.
China has made significant efforts to impose itself as an important actor in space – an area that nations, including the United States, are following more and more for scientific benefits, but also for national resources and security. .cnn.com.
However, finding water on the Moon would not be a novelty. Last year, Chinese scientists found water in the soil samples taken by the Chang’E-5 monthly probe, while NASA and India spatial ships have previously detected what is water on the moon surface.
But some scientists believe that only ice – which are believed to be kept in the depths of craters on the distant side of the Moon – could support future monthly missions as a source of water for astronauts.
And the search for monthly ice is part of China’s preparations to build a research base on the southern pole of the Moon, Chinese space experts said for CCTV state television.
“There are a few very deep caves at the southern pole of the Moon and we believe that there could be water there“, Said Wu Weiren, the chief designer of the Chinese monthly exploration project, for CCTV. “We hope that the flying detector can perform on -site inspections in one or two caves after landing.”
Finding ice deposits could help support human life a day, Chinese experts said, adding that it would significantly reduce the cost of space missions – and suggest the possibility of alien life.
Other experts have previously told CNN that although monthly water discoveries open gates for future exploration, we cannot still use these discoveries to plant crops per month or to extract drinking water; They depend on many factors, such as how abundant water and chemical form they take.
Flying robot
The Chinese national space administration has carried out a series of more and more complex monthly missions in recent years, including the first return of monthly samples to the distant month last year.
China has tried to become the second country that will send astronauts on the Moon, stating that its first crew mission will take place “by 2030 ”.
According to this plan, the Chang’E -7 mission scheduled for 2026 aims to carry out the most detailed study of the monthly southern pole, using a orbitor, a landing module, a rover – and the flying detector.
The flying robot can bend its feet and land in a similar way to people jumping from height, Chinese experts said for the state media, although the reports have not specified how many legs it has.
It is expected that the device will perform at least three jumps from sunburned areas in shaded craters to perform detailed analyzes and to determine, the location, the quantity and distribution of the ice, the experts added.
Studies have shown that the monthly ice is in the darkest and coldest areas of Poli, in the shadow of craters where the sunlight never gets due to the inclination of the axis of the Moon. The hottest temperatures in these areas do not exceed -250 degrees Fahrenheit.
Tang Yuhua, deputy chief designer of the Chang’E-7 mission, said these harsh conditions will severely test the flying robot.
“To work for a long time under these conditions is a great challenge”, he told the state media.
