China is preparing to launch its most ambitious lunar mission yet. Chang’e-7 Targeted for Lunar South Pole in Hunt for Water Ice. Looking for Water Ice No Mission Has Confirmed YetThe central scientific goal of Chang’e-7 is detecting water ice at the lunar south pole. That two-track strategy reflects a genuine scientific question about where south pole ice actually sits. The south pole presents a similar challenge, and Chang’e-7’s relay component is built to keep the surface systems connected throughout their operational phase.