Chang'e Lunar missions to benefit from new relay satellite launch
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 26, 2024
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced the arrival of the Long March 8 carrier rocket at the Wenchang Space Launch Center, Hainan province. Tasked with launching the Queqiao 2 relay satellite, pre-launch preparations, including assembly and ground testing of the rocket and satellite, are now underway, with the launch slated for the first half of this year.

Queqiao 2, the successor to Queqiao 1, is designed to facilitate communication between Earth and China's lunar probes, including Chang'e 4, Chang'e 6, Chang'e 7, and Chang'e 8. This satellite will play a critical role in missions to the Moon's far side, where direct communication is obstructed by the Moon itself.

Queqiao 1's launch in May 2018 by a Long March 4C rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center enabled the Chang'e 4 mission to the Moon's far side. Queqiao 2 is expected to broaden these communication capabilities, supporting both current and future lunar missions.

With Queqiao 2 operational, the Chang'e 6 mission will proceed to the Moon, aiming for a landing on its far side to collect and return lunar samples. This mission represents a significant effort to uncover new lunar data, contributing to our understanding of the Moon's composition and history.

The Long March 8 rocket, a product of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), is 50.3 meters tall, featuring two core stages and two side boosters. It uses liquid oxygen, liquid hydrogen, and kerosene as propellants across its six engines. This design enables it to carry up to 4.5 tons to a sun-synchronous orbit or 2.8 tons to a geostationary transfer orbit. Its inaugural mission in December 2020 demonstrated its payload delivery capabilities.

Based on a Xinhua News Agency article

Related Links
Lunar Exploration and Space Program
Mars News and Information at MarsDaily.com
Lunar Dreams and more