Lunar Surface Magnetic Field Investigation of the Chang'e-7 Mission: Scientific Objectives and Instrumentation

The upcoming Chang'e-7 (CE-7) mission, targeting a launch in 2026, will perform unprecedented exploration of the lunar south pole. A key scientific objective is to investigate the origin and characteristics of lunar surface magnetic anomalies, which hold critical information about the Moon's internal thermal evolution and past dynamo activity.

To achieve high-precision measurements, a dual-sensor tri-axial fluxgate magnetometer has been developed for this mission. This instrument will be deployed on the CE-7 rover to conduct in-situ surveys. Its design focuses on achieving an ultra-low noise level, enabling the detection of weak magnetic fields with high sensitivity. This capability is essential for mapping the fine-scale structure of magnetic anomalies and distinguishing between remnant crustal magnetization and fields induced by other mechanisms.

The primary scientific goals are to: 1) map the spatial distribution of magnetic fields at the south pole with high resolution, constrain the intensity and temporal evolution of the Moon's paleomagnetic field by analyzing the remanent magnetism of surface materials; 2) probe the lunar internal structure by analyzing the induced magnetic field response generated by the changing interplanetary magnetic field penetrating the Moon, which can reveal the electrical conductivity distribution of the lunar crust and mantle; 3) study how local magnetic fields modulate the surface space environment, potentially forming "mini-magnetospheres" that influence solar wind bombardment and volatile preservation through jointed space-Moon observations by combining surface magnetic field data from the rover with measurements from the orbiter’s magnetometer.

The findings from this investigation are expected to provide groundbreaking insights into the lunar internal structure and the history of the core dynamo, directly addressing fundamental questions in planetary science.