China launches satellite into lunar orbit to help deliver soil sampled from far side of Moon

The Xinhua news agency reported that the Chinese satellite relay "Queqiao-2," previously launched, has been placed into lunar orbit. Two days ago, during a 19-minute braking maneuver, "Queqiao-2" successfully established itself in a lunar orbit with parameters of 200 × 100,000 km. The orbit and its inclination will be adjusted to 200 × 16,000 km with a 24-hour orbital period. In this position, the satellite will consume minimal fuel and will remain in communication with Earth for most of the time.

The relay satellite "Queqiao-2" is necessary to facilitate communication with the descent module of the Chang'e-6 automatic lunar station. This station is scheduled to be launched in May to collect and deliver to Earth the first-ever samples of lunar soil from the far side of the moon. However, the mission of "Queqiao-2" will not end there. This 1200-kg spacecraft is equipped with a large 4.2-meter antenna. After the completion of the Chang'e-6 mission, the relay will provide communication with the lander and rover of the Chang'e-4 mission.

In the coming years, the satellite will establish communication channels for the Chang'e-7 and Chang'e-8 missions to explore the lunar South Pole, ultimately supporting efforts to establish a permanent presence on the Moon. In this case, the relay's orbit will be changed to a 12-hour one. China also offers space agencies of other countries to use "Queqiao-2" for their own missions to the far side of the Moon and the South Pole region of the satellite.

Furthermore, aboard "Queqiao-2" are three scientific instruments that will be used in the Chang'e-7 scientific mission. Among them are a camera with sensors operating in the ultraviolet range, a neutral atom scanner, and equipment for using the antenna in interferometric astrophysical experiments with a very long baseline Earth-Moon (VLBI), allowing the satellite to unravel the mysteries of the Universe.

Along with "Queqiao-2," two navigation-communication satellites, "Tiandu-1" and "Tiandu-2," were also aboard the Changzheng-8 carrier rocket launched on March 19, and they have also been placed into lunar orbit. Operating in formation, these satellites will participate in navigation experiments in the lunar region and provide communication support.