In-situ detection of water ice and volatiles in lunar permanently shadowed regions

 The LUnar soil Water molecular Analyzer (LUWA) is a payload aboard China's Chang'E-7 mission (to be launched in 2026), which will conduct first in-situ detection of water ice and volatiles within the permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) at the lunar south pole. As the cornerstone of the fourth phase of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program, Chang'E-7 employs a novel multi-probe architecture of an orbiter, lander, rover, and mini-flying probe to explore the rim of Shackleton crater.

Mount on the mini-flying probe, LUWA will analyze volatile components in the lunar soil extracted from both the sunlit area and PSRs. Its primary objectives include: (1) verifying the presence of water molecular and determining its abundance in the lunar regolith, (2) performing elemental and isotopic analyses (e.g., D/H) to determine the origin of lunar volatiles, and (3) investigating distribution, and evolution of water ice in the PSRs.