Thai Lunar Payload CE-7 MATCH Stands Ready Despite Chang’e 7 Postponement to 2027

Brickinfo News Agency – The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) confirmed that Thailand’s scientific payload, CE-7 MATCH, remains prepared for deployment following the postponement of China’s Chang’e 7 lunar mission to 2027.

The launch of the Long March 5 Y14 rocket carrying the Chang’e 7 spacecraft, originally scheduled for 24 August 2026, was delayed due to the development of Typhoon Narra in the South China Sea. Chang’e 7 aims to land in the Shackleton crater near the lunar south pole, a target requiring specific solar lighting conditions that cannot be met within the remaining 2026 launch windows.

The Moon-Aiming Thai-Chinese Hodoscope, or CE-7 MATCH, was jointly developed by NARIT and Mahidol University to study deep-space cosmic rays beyond Earth’s magnetic field. The instrument marks Thailand’s first scientific payload designed to leave Earth’s orbit and travel to another celestial body. Engineers designed the payload without onboard chemical batteries or degrading components, ensuring long-term hardware stability ahead of the revised 2027 schedule.

Dr. Wiphu Rujopakarn, Executive Director of NARIT, stated that the technical delay does not affect the operational readiness of the instrument or the team. He noted that the project has established foundational capabilities and technical knowledge in deep-space systems engineering within Thailand.

Dr. Peerapong Thorteeka, lead engineer of the project at NARIT, explained that the engineering team is currently focusing on future developments, including the CE-8 ALIGN payload and expanding national deep-space laboratory infrastructure.