Wenchang, 18 March 2024 (TDI): China National Space Administration (CNSA) reported that the combination of the relay satellite, Queqiao-2, and the Long March-8 Y3 carrier rocket, part of the China’s lunar exploration, was vertically transferred to the launching area on Sunday.
The satellite, transferred to the launching site at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China’s Hainan province, is projected to be launched at an appropriate time within the next few days.
According to the China National Space Administration, the combination on a removable launch pad was moved out of the vertical test building of the launching site in the morning, and then safely transported to its launching area.
Moreover, the rocket check, the joint test work and the propellant filling will be carried out before the launch.
Besides, Queqiao-2, or Magpie Bridge-2, will serve as a relay platform for the fourth phase of China’s lunar exploration program.
The satellite is set to provide communications services for the Chang’e-4, Chang’e-6, Chang’e-7, Chang’e-8 missions.
Queqiao-1
Previously, the Queqiao-1 was lifted in May 2018 by a long March 4C rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province. The satellite currently serves as a relay platform for the Chang’e-4 lunar mission.
Chang’e-4 probe landed in the South Pole Aitken Basin on the far side of the moon in January 2019. This was the first time for any spacecraft to be operated on the little-known hemisphere.
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It is expected for the Chang’e 6 probe will be launched in the first half of the year; this will become the second spacecraft to reach the moon’s far side. Moreover, the mission aims to bring back samples from lunar far side.
Specifically, the communication services between the Chang’e 4 and Chang’e 6 spacecraft and the Earth require relay satellites mainly because of their special locations. Therefore, communication remains its primary task.
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