China’s Chang’e-8 mission may make history for more than just its lunar research. In 2029, it plans to deliver the first African scientific space mission to the Moon’s south pole, where it will search for the universe’s earliest signals.
The Africa2Moon project involves sending three small spherical probes known as BALLS (Bounced African Low Lunar Sphere). Upon landing, they will form a compact radio telescope array designed for observations at ultra-low radio frequencies. Each probe will be equipped with antennas capable of capturing faint signals from the most distant and ancient cosmic objects.
As project leader Carla Mitchell of the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) explained, the far side of the Moon is considered the radio-quietest location in Earth’s vicinity. Free from interference caused by the Earth’s atmosphere and human activity, the site will allow scientists to detect signals that are impossible to pick up from our planet’s surface.
The BALLS project was selected by the China National Space Administration in 2025 as one of the international scientific experiments for the Chang’e-8 mission. If the launch proceeds as planned in 2029, it will mark the first time in history that an African scientific mission is sent to the lunar surface.
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