Humanoid robot could join China’s Chang’e 8 mission to the moon in 2028
An update on China’s Chang’e 8 lunar mission reveals that the spacecraft will land on the moon’s south pole and test resource utilization technologies.
China’s Chang’e 8 mission will introduce new technologies and scientific experiments for lunar exploration. According to a post shared on Chinese social media, Wang Qiong, chief designer of the mission, recently presented an update on the project in Beijing.
The presentation highlighted a four-wheeled spacecraft with a humanoid-shaped upper section. Although the purpose and significance of its design remain unclear.
Scheduled for 2028, the mission aims to land near the moon’s south pole to test resource utilization technologies, such as 3D-printing lunar regolith into bricks, and conduct ecosystem experiments.
Designed with advanced scientific tools
Slides from the post, uploaded onto the Chinese social media platform Weibo, reveal details of the Chang’e 8 spacecraft. The four-legged lander, based on previous successful Chang’e missions, will carry scientific instruments like cameras, telescopes, and a seismometer. It will also include a crane to deploy payloads and spacecraft on the lunar surface.
The lander will carry a six-wheeled rover, similar to the Yutu rovers from earlier Chang’e missions. The rover will be equipped with a panoramic camera, lunar penetrating radar, an infrared spectrometer, and a payload for sample analysis and storage.
The Chang’e 8, along with the 2026 Chang’e 7 mission, serves as a precursor to China’s planned International Lunar Research Station, set for construction in the 2030s with support from Russia and other partners.
Roadmap to dominate market
While China has not publicly revealed any other humanoid robots for space exploration, the government is focused on mass-producing humanoid robots by 2025 and aims to dominate the emerging market by 2027.
In January, Beijing launched a $1.4 billion state-backed robotics fund, while Shanghai announced plans in July to create a $1.4 billion humanoid industry fund. The effort is also backed by Chinese President Xi Jinping’s policy of developing “new productive forces” in technology.
The country is already utilizing robots, as shown at the recent Hangzhou Marathon, where two robots, Go2 and B2, served as official cheerleaders and pacemakers. The four-legged robots ran alongside participants, with Go2 playing music, offering encouragement and safety tips, shaking hands, and performing tricks like backflips and handstands.