Blue Origin's Endurance lander and China's Chang'e 7 mission are both targeting late 2024 launches to Shackleton Crater at the Moon's south pole, marking the most ambitious robotic lunar missions to date. The competition highlights a new space race for accessing water ice resources, with both spacecraft potentially operating in close proximity. The missions represent significant advancements in lunar exploration capabilities from private and national space programs.
Background
Shackleton Crater at the Moon's south pole contains valuable water ice deposits that could support future lunar colonization and deep space missions. Both NASA's commercial partners and China's space program are racing to establish presence in this strategic location.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- Apr 16, 2026 at 07:00 PM
- Score
- 8.0 / 10