China launch of relay satellite Queqiao-2 for lunar probe mission successful

A Long March-8 rocket, carrying the relay satellite Queqiao-2 for Earth-Moon communications, blasts off at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province, China March 20, 2024. China Daily via REUTERS/File PhotoBEIJING, April 12 - China National Space Administration said on Friday its launch of a key signal relay satellite was a "complete success" and it would serve as the communication bridge for its future lunar probe missions for years to come, state media reported.

The moon's near side always faces earth. That means data transfers from the far side are impossible because there is no direct line of sight. Queqiao-2 will also be used as a relay platform for the Chang'e-7 lunar mission in 2026 and the Chang'e-8 mission in 2028. Queqiao-2 entered its targeted elliptical orbit on April 2 after a correction midway, near-moon braking and orbital manoeuvre around the moon, CNSA said.

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