The satellite, named Queqiao 2 or Magpie Bridge 2, was launched aboard a Long March 8 carrier rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Center on Hainan Island at 8:31 am. Approximately 24 minutes post-launch, the satellite separated from the rocket, initiating its trajectory toward the moon with the successful deployment of its solar wings and communication antennas.
Senior official Ge Ping, from the China National Space Administration, overseeing lunar programs, stated, "The launch proceeded as scheduled, and the satellite's precise entry into its trajectory lays a solid groundwork for its upcoming tasks."
Queqiao 2 will undergo a series of maneuvers, including midcourse corrections and a braking operation, to enter an elliptical orbit around the moon, positioning itself as a vital communications relay for current and future lunar probes.
The spacecraft, a product of the China Academy of Space Technology, carries two primary payloads: a 4.2-meter antenna for lunar probe communication and a 0.6-meter antenna for data transmission to Earth. Its immediate mission involves supporting the Chang'e 6 robotic mission, slated for launch before July, by relaying signals and data.
Furthermore, Queqiao 2 is expected to play a role in the Chang'e 7 and 8 missions, contributing to the ambitious International Lunar Research Station planned for the 2030s, indicating China's continuing commitment to lunar exploration.
China's lunar exploration program, initiated in 2004, has achieved significant milestones, including the Chang'e 5 mission's return of lunar samples in December 2020, the first such accomplishment in over four decades.
The forthcoming Chang'e 6 mission aims to conduct the unprecedented task of collecting samples from the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the moon's far side, necessitating relay satellites like Queqiao 2 for communication with Earth.
Queqiao 2's launch also included the deployment of two experimental satellites, Tiandu 1 and 2, to test new communication and navigation technologies, underscoring China's continuous innovation in space technology.
This mission, China's 12th space endeavor of the year, not only highlights the Long March 8 rocket's versatility but also showcases the engineering advancements made to ensure the mission's success against challenges such as upper atmospheric winds and extreme heat during lunar transfers.
Based on a Xinhua News Agency article
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China Manned Space Agency
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