Chinese scientists intend to develop a lunar robot equipped with a charging station for the national Chang’e-8 mission, which is scheduled to launch in 2028.
A joint team of researchers from Dalian University of Technology, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and the University of Shenzhen has proposed a project for a multifunctional robot to work on the lunar surface, which will also serve as a mobile charging station.
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) has approved it for inclusion in the Chang’e-8 lunar mission, according to a press release from Dalian University of Technology published this week.
The robot, which weighs about 100 kilograms, is capable of conducting complex experiments in the harsh lunar environment.
According to Yu Xiaozhou, team leader from Dalian University of Technology, it can accompany the lunar lander and monitor its working condition.
According to Yu Hongyu, a professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the project aims to solve technical problems, including withstanding the extremely low temperatures of the Moon’s south pole and performing positioning, navigation and autonomous movement without relying on satellite navigation systems.
Together with Chang’e-8 “Chang’e-7 will become the basic model of the lunar research station. The Chang’e-7 probe is expected to be sent into space around 2026 to explore the resources of the Moon’s south pole.
