China Wants to Bring Advanced Flying Robot to the Dark Side of the Moon

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia –China will bring a ‘flying detector’ robot to the far side of the Moon. The country wants to search for frozen water in the area.

The discovery of water on the Moon is nothing new. China has found it on Chang’e-5, as have NASA and India.

However, a number of scientists say ice can support human life. In this case, it supports the Moon mission as a source of water for astronauts later.

The search for ice is part of China’s preparations to build a research base at the south pole of the Moon.

China already has an estimate of the location. Chief Designer of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Project, Wu Weiren, said that there are several very deep caves that have the potential to have water.

“We hope that the flying detector can conduct an inspection at the location of one or two caves after landing,” he said, quoted from CNN International, Friday (7/2/2025).

Although it finds water on the Moon, a number of other experts say that it does not mean that it can be used to grow plants on the Moon or extract it into drinking water.

It all depends on many factors. For example, the abundance of water and its chemical form.

The robot is part of China’s Chang’e-7 mission, which is due to launch in 2026. The goal is to get astronauts to the Moon within five years. The mission will conduct a detailed survey of the South Pole. In addition to flying detectors, there will be an orbiter, lander and rover deployed there later.

SOURCE : CNBC INDONESIA