Water ice

Chang'e-7, China's orbiter, lander, rover and hopper bound for the rim of Shackleton crater at the lunar south pole, was due to launch on a Long March 5 from Wenchang around Aug. 24, 2026. Chinese officials said the mission cannot fly within this year's launch window, with Tropical Storm Narra cited as the cause. No new date has been set; reports suggest it could slip to 2027.

Chang'e-7, China's orbiter, lander, rover and hopper bound for the rim of Shackleton crater at the lunar south pole, was due to launch on a Long March 5 from Wenchang around Aug. 24, 2026. Chinese officials said the mission cannot fly within this year's launch window, with Tropical Storm Narra cited as the cause. No new date has been set; reports suggest it could slip to 2027.

Intuitive Machines' Nova-C lander Athena touched down at Mons Mouton near the lunar south pole on March 6, 2025 — the southernmost lunar landing ever — but settled on its side inside a small crater ~250 m from the target site after an altimeter failure. Power depleted within 13 hours. NASA's PRIME-1 drill could not operate, though 250 MB of data was returned. The company's second consecutive sideways landing.