BEIJING — The China National Space Administration on Saturday confirmed that its Chang'e-8 lunar lander had passed a critical design and engineering review, keeping the mission on schedule for a 2028 launch to the Moon's south pole.

Chang'e-8 is designed to test in-situ resource utilisation, including experiments to extract oxygen and build materials from lunar regolith. The agency said the mission would carry international payloads and serve as a cornerstone for the planned International Lunar Research Station being developed with Russia and other partners.

The review validated the lander's power, thermal and robotic systems for operation in the permanently shadowed regions near the south pole, where water ice is believed to be concentrated. Chang'e-8 follows the Chang'e-7 mission, which is scheduled to search for water ice first.

The milestone underscores the widening competition between China and the United States, whose NASA-led Artemis programme targets a crewed south pole landing later this decade. Chinese officials have repeatedly stated their goal of landing astronauts on the Moon before 2030.

A CNSA spokesperson said the successful review "marks solid progress toward establishing a permanent scientific presence on the lunar surface," adding that partner nations would be invited to contribute additional instruments.