China launched a satellite that serves as a communication link between ground activities and a spacecraft on the Moon on March 20, marking a new phase in its exploration journey.
According to state media, the Long March 8 rocket carried the Queqiao-2 satellite, weighing 1.2 tons, along with two Tian Duo-1 and 2 mini satellites. The launch took place from Hainan Province, located in southern China, and will facilitate the transmission of signals from the far side of the Moon to ground-based equipment.
Typically, the near side of the Moon always faces Earth, meaning that data cannot be transmitted from the far side due to the lack of a direct line of sight. Queqiao-2 will orbit the Moon and relay signals to and from the Chang’e 6 spacecraft, which is expected to be launched in May.
China launches a relay satellite for the Moon mission.
The mission of the Chang’e 6 probe will focus on retrieving samples from an ancient basin on the far side of the Moon.
Queqiao-2 will also serve as a support platform for the Chang’e 7 mission scheduled for 2026 and the Chang’e 8 mission planned for 2028. By 2040, Queqiao-2 will be part of a constellation of relay satellites that will act as a communication bridge for Moon missions and exploration of other planets such as Mars and Venus. This satellite constellation will also provide communication, navigation, and remote sensing support for China’s planned research station at the Moon’s southern pole.
Queqiao-2 is designed to have a lifespan of at least 8 years, succeeding Queqiao-1, which was launched in 2018 with a design life of 5 years and weighed only one-third as much.
In 2019, Chang’e 4 became China’s first spacecraft to achieve a soft landing on the far side of the Moon.
