China's Chang'e 7 mission targets lunar south pole for water ice discovery

China has launched the Chang'e 7 mission to explore the moon's south pole for water ice. This mission aims to land at Shackleton Crater, where it will search for ice in permanently shadowed regions. The spacecraft includes an orbiter, lander, and rover, and is part of China's broader goal to establish a permanent lunar base, intensifying competition with the U.S. in space exploration.