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China launches relay satellite for Chang'e-4 lunar probe

China on Monday successfully launched a relay satellite for the Chang'e-4 lunar mission, which is scheduled for later this year. The satellite, named Queqiao...

China Launches Relay Satellite to Explore Moon's Far Side

China launched a relay satellite early Monday to set up a communication link between Earth and the planned Chang'e-4 lunar probe that will explore the myster...

Full Video: China launches relay satellite to explore far side of the Moon

China launched a relay satellite early Monday to set up a communication link between Earth and the planned Chang'e-4 lunar probe that will explore the myster...

Queqiao (Chang'e 4 relay satellite)

Overview

Destination: Lunar Orbit
Mission: Planetary Science

Lunar Orbit Launch Complex 3 ( LC-3 ) ( LA-1 ) Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Chang'e 4 is a Chinese lunar exploration mission that will incorporate an orbiter, a robotic lander and rover. The orbiter serves as a communications relay satellite. It will be placed into a halo orbit around the Earth-Moon L2 Lagrange point and is planned to support further missions to the far side of the Moon.

Long March 4C

Family: Long March 4
Configuration: C

The Long March 4C, also known as the Chang Zheng 4C, CZ-4C and LM-4C, previously designated Long March 4B-II, is a Chinese orbital carrier rocket. It is launched from the Jiuquan, Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre and Xichangs, and consists of 3 stages. Long March 4C vehicles have been used to launch the Yaogan-1, Yaogan-3 SAR satellites and the Fengyun-3A polar orbiting meteorological satellite. On December 15, 2009 a Long March 4C was used to launch Yaogan 8.

Specifications
  • Length
  • Diameter
  • Fairing Diameter
  • Launch Mass
  • Thrust
Family
  • Name
    Long March 4C
  • Family
    Long March 4
  • Variant
    C
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Long March 4C
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
  • Low Earth Orbit
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
  • Direct Geostationary
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

Circle Image
Chairman & President: Lei Fanpei Founded: 1999 Successes: 411 Failures: 13 Pending: 5

Agency Type: Government

The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) is the main contractor for the Chinese space program. It is state-owned and has a number of subordinate entities which design, develop and manufacture a range of spacecraft, launch vehicles, strategic and tactical missile systems, and ground equipment. It was officially established in July 1999 as part of a Chinese government reform drive, having previously been one part of the former China Aerospace Corporation. Various incarnations of the program date back to 1956.

INFO WIKI

Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Launch Complex 3 ( LC-3 ) ( LA-1 )


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