© 秦英健/Qin Yingjian
China Aerospace Science and Technology CorporationLong March 8
Queqiao-2
Success
T-minus to liftoff
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00
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00
MINUTES
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SECONDS
Mar 20, 00:31:28 UTC
StatusSuccess
VehicleLong March 8
OrbitLunar Orbit
Pad201
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Mission
Queqiao-2 is a Chinese artificial satellite to serve as a communications relay for future Chinese lunar far side missions that cannot communicate directly with the Earth, beginning with the Chang'e 6 lunar sample return mission in 2024. It will operate from a Distant Retrograde Orbit (DRO) of the Moon. The launch also carries the Tiandu-1 & 2 small satellites testing cis-lunar space navigation and inter-satellite communication techniques for CNSA’s Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL).
Quick facts
VehicleLong March 8
OrbitLunar Orbit
Pad201
SiteWenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China
WindowMar 20, 00:21:00 UTC→Mar 20, 02:16:00 UTC
Vehicle
FamilyLong March