A Russian dust monitoring instrument installed on China's Chang'e-7 spacecraft will inspect how lunar dust moves across the moon's surface, a space official confirmed.
Dmitry Zarubin, leading engineer and coordinator of international projects at the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, told RIA Novosti that the PmL-Ch7 device will evaluate existing models of dust transport.
Zarubin explained that studying the movement of surface particles is vital to ensure greater safety for prospective crewed and robotic lunar missions. He said the detector will measure particle concentration, electrical charges, speeds and masses.
Hazards of lunar dust levitation
Lunar dust represents one of the most severe operational hazards for hardware and human crews on the moon. Unlike soil on Earth, regolith particles are extremely abrasive because there is no wind or water erosion to smooth their sharp edges.
Exposure to solar radiation and solar wind plasma causes these fine particles to become electrostatically charged. As a result, dust grains levitate above the surface and adhere to solar panels, thermal radiators, mechanical joints and space suit fabrics, causing overheating and equipment wear.
By gathering empirical data on how lunar dust behaves in real time, the PmL-Ch7 sensor aims to help engineers refine protective coatings, seal designs and dust mitigation systems for long term lunar outposts.
Russian and Chinese space research collaboration
The Space Research Institute, known as IKI RAN, is the primary organization within the Russian Academy of Sciences responsible for planetary exploration and space physics. Based in Moscow, the institute has built scientific instruments for dozens of domestic and international robotic probes.
China's Chang'e-7 mission is part of the fourth phase of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program, which targets the lunar south pole. The robotic mission includes an orbiter, lander, rover and a mini hopping detector designed to explore permanently shadowed craters for signs of water ice.
The integration of Russian hardware on Chinese lunar probes stems from bilateral agreements between the two nations to share scientific payloads and collaborate on future exploration projects, including plans for a joint robotic research station on the moon.
Launch postponement and mission timeline
The timetable for sending Chang'e-7 into orbit was recently adjusted. Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported in August that the mission launch was postponed indefinitely because the spacecraft did not meet launch conditions to depart within its scheduled 2026 window.
Xinhua had previously reported in February 2025 that the Chinese Chang'e-7 landing module was slated to depart for the moon in 2026. Space agencies have not specified when the revised launch preparation will resume.
