2nd Academic Symposium on Chang’E-8 Mission Scientific Exploration and Research

During this prototype R&D period, the Forum aims to verify the scientific objectives of the payload and ground testing operations for the Chang’E-8 lunar mission and to facilitate the exchange between the payload researchers and scientists.

Co-organized by Institute of Optoelectronics and the Chinese Academy of Sciences and its National Space Science Center.

International cooperation opportunities were announced in December 2023 by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) for international partners to participate in payload and project-level cooperation for the mission. Chang’E-8 mission scientific objectives include lunar south pole exploration, development of technologies for a future lunar research station, investigating lunar multi-physics fields and testing capabilities for building lunar habitats using in-situ resources. Information on the mission likely to increase closer to the launch, which is expected NET 2028.

Starvision Aerospace Group Limited, a Chinese commercial satellite company, Zhejiang University and Turkiye’s Middle East Technical University will jointly develop two 5-kg micro-robots for the mission, which also will feature a 100-kg roving robot being developed by Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, several Chinese Universities, Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology and South African National Space Agency.