China postpones moon launch as mission fails to meet launch conditions

China has postponed its Chang'e-7 lunar mission, saying it "does not meet the launch conditions" and cannot launch during this year's window.
The probe was to explore the lunar south pole and search for water ice — a crucial step toward a long-term presence on the Moon.
The delay comes amid heightened U.S.–China lunar competition after China’s Chang'e-6 returned samples and NASA’s Artemis II recently circled the Moon.