NASA's Isaacman says China's delayed Moon mission targeted same South Pole site as US
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said China's Chang'e 7 lunar mission, delayed last month until early 2026, was headed for the Shackleton Crater—the same South Pole target NASA has prioritized for its own exploration. China gave no detailed reason for the postponement, but Isaacman called the delay fortunate for the US, noting the mission includes rovers and hopper drones capable of extensive mobility around the crater's ice-rich, permanently shadowed regions.