China’s Queqiao-2 Relay Satellite Successfully Launched to Support Lunar Missions
China has recently launched the Queqiao-2 relay satellite to support lunar exploration missions on the far side and south pole of the moon. The satellite was lifted off into space on the Long March 8 rocket from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on March 19 at 8:31 p.m. Eastern time.
Around 40 minutes after the launch, Queqiao-2 was confirmed to be on its trajectory towards the moon. The satellite has successfully deployed its solar arrays and is now in a predetermined orbit with a perigee of 200 km and an apogee of 420,000 km.
Queqiao-2 is set to play a crucial role in supporting future lunar exploration efforts and the building of a lunar base in the 2030s. The spacecraft will enter a highly elliptical lunar orbit inclined by 55 degrees to support the Chang’e-6 mission and later missions to the lunar south pole such as Chang’e-7 and Chang’e-8.
Furthermore, Queqiao-2 also carries payloads that will contribute to the science objectives of the Chang’e-7 mission. The launch also included the Tiandu-1 and Tiandu-2 experimental satellites, which will be used for navigation and communications technology verification.
Despite previous reports of an upper stage malfunction during the launch, leaving it in a high Earth orbit and falling short of reaching the moon, China remains committed to its ambitious space exploration goals. The country is aiming to launch around 100 times in 2024, with efforts underway to salvage the mission and further advance its space program.
