A Long March-5 rocket, carrying the Chang'e-6 spacecraft, blasts off from its launchpad at the Wenchang Space Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, May 3, 2024. (File photo: CNSA)

WENCHANG, Hainan, April 10 (Xinhua) -- China's Chang'e-7 lunar probe is scheduled for launch in the second half of 2026, the China Manned Space Agency said Friday.

The probe for the Chang'e-7 mission has been transported to the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in the southern island province of Hainan, with pre-launch tests set to be carried out as scheduled.

Currently, the facilities at the launch site are in good condition and all preparatory work is progressing as planned, the agency said.

Transporting parts of China's Chang'e-7 lunar probe. (Photo: CMG)

The Chang'e-7 mission aims to achieve breakthroughs in key technologies on the lunar surface, such as high-precision soft landing, legged movements, hopping, and exploration of permanently shadowed craters.

It will adopt a comprehensive detection approach, which involves orbiting, landing, roving and hopping, to carry out environmental and resource surveys of the lunar south pole.

International cooperation will also be included in the mission.

The agency added that China will deeply integrate its resources and capabilities in its current crewed lunar landing and unmanned lunar exploration programs, to enhance the comprehensive effectiveness of the country's moon endeavors.