China plans to send a flying robot to the far side of the moon next year to search for the frozen water that could hold the key to future lunar exploration, as the country pushes forward with its ambitious space program.
The robotic “flying detector” will be deployed to the lunar south pole as part of China’s Chang’e-7 mission, which aims to bring the country closer to landing astronauts on the moon within five years, state media reported on Monday.
China has mounted a significant effort to establish itself as a major player in space – a domain that nations, including the United States, are increasingly looking to not only for scientific benefit, but also with an eye to resources and national security.
Finding water on the moon would be nothing new, however. Last year, Chinese scientists found water in soil samples from the Chang’e-5 lunar probe, while NASA and Indian spacecraft have previously spotted what they believe to be water on the moon’s surface.
