Abstract: Exploring ice giants and their moons stands as one of the frontiers in deep space exploration and space science research. Current international planetary exploration plans all include missions to ice giants. Focusing on China’s future ice giant exploration missions, the current status of ice giant exploration is investigated, and seven key scientific questions are identified and summarized. By comparing and analyzing the characteristics of ice giant systems, and combining with the development trends in planetary exploration, the prospects and recommendations for future ice giant missions are proposed. Neptune-Triton exploration as a priority for ice giant missions is highlighted. Future exploration can be broadly divided into three subjects: exploring extraterrestrial oceans and life, understanding Kuiper belt objects and solar system evolution, and investigating ice giant systems to understand planetary origins and evolution. Analyzing the scientific objectives for ice giant exploration provides a scientific reference for China’s future deep space missions.

Key words: ice giants, Uranus, Neptune, Triton, planetary exploration