China has launched satellites into orbit to revolutionize communications and navigation in future missions to the Moon. The Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) has described the launch of the satellite as a “total success” Queqiao-2 signal relay station on March 20, along with its companion mini satellites Tiandu-1 and Tiandu-2.
Queqiao-2, whose name is inspired by a mythological bridge formed by magpies, will act as a crucial communication link for lunar survey missions on the far side of the Moon, a sector that, having no direct view of the Earth, poses significant challenges for data transmission. As reported by the CNSA, this satellite will facilitate communications at least until 2030.
The mission has already begun to bear fruit, with one of the satellites transmitting a stunning infrared image that reveals the rugged surface of the lunar far side and a distant view of our own planet.
Queqiao-2 satellite as a broadcast platform
In addition to its role in the upcoming Chang’e-6 mission, which will seek to collect samples from an ancient lunar basin in May, Queqiao-2 will also be essential for the future Chang’e-7 and Chang’e-8 missions, planned for 2026 and 2028 respectively. These missions will benefit from the satellite as a retransmission platform, according to CNSA statements reported by state television CCTV.
Xiong Liang, the researcher and developer behind Queqiao-2, has described it on CCTV as “the main switch” for the fourth phase of China’s lunar missions, noting that “only when the main switch is turned on will all of them be launched.” the comunications”.
The satellite reached its desired elliptical orbit on April 2 after a series of key maneuvers, including a trajectory correction and braking near the Moon. Since then, it has established communication with Chang’e 4, which was the first spacecraft to softly land on the far side and is still operational, as well as with the Chang’e-6 probe.
This milestone comes after the recent failure of another launch, that of the DRO-A/B satellite, which failed to reach the distant retrograde orbit of the Moon. It is not yet clear whether the launched satellites can be recovered in the future.
FEW (Reuters, Live Science)
