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Queqiao-2

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Overview

Destination: Lunar Orbit
Mission: Planetary Science

Lunar Orbit 201 Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

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).

Updates

Cosmic_Penguin • March 20, 2024, 1:08 a.m.

Launch success.


SwGustav • March 20, 2024, 12:32 a.m.

Liftoff


Cosmic_Penguin • March 18, 2024, 7:16 a.m.

Tweaked T-0.


Cosmic_Penguin • March 15, 2024, 11:12 a.m.

Updated launch window per additional NOTAMs.


Cosmic_Penguin • March 15, 2024, 7:51 a.m.

Added tentative launch date and window per NOTAMs; Identity of launch with launch vehicle and payload combination uncertain.


Long March 8

Family:
Configuration: 8

Long March 8 (Chinese: 长征八号运载火箭) is an orbital launch vehicle developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology to launch up to 5000 kg to a 700 km altitude Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO). The rocket is based on the Long March 7 with its first stage and 2 out of its 4 boosters, along with the existing liquid hydrogen burning 3rd stage of the Long March 3A/3B/3C and 7A as its 2nd stage. A "Core Only" version omitting the boosters is also available.

Specifications
  • Stages
    2
  • Length
    50.34 m
  • Diameter
    3.35 m
  • Fairing Diameter
  • Launch Mass
    356.0 T
  • Thrust
    4800.0 kN
Family
  • Name
    Long March 8
  • Family
  • Variant
    8
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Long March 8
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
  • Low Earth Orbit
    8100.0 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
    2800.0 kg
  • Direct Geostationary
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity
    5000.0 kg

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

(CASC)

Chairman & President: Lei Fanpei Founded: 1999 Successes: 516 Failures: 14 Pending: 7

Agency Type:

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

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China’s Queqiao-2 communications relay satellite entered lunar orbit March 24, paving the way for a lunar far side sample return mission.

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Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

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