NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

Queqiao-2

Launch Time
Wed Mar 20, 2024 00:31 UTC

Rocket

Long March 8
Image Credit: CASC
CASC
Status: Active
Price: $27.0 million
Liftoff Thrust: 4,752 kN
Payload to LEO: 7,600 kg
Payload to GTO: 2,500 kg
Stages: 3
Strap-ons: 2
Rocket Height: 50.0 m
Fairing Diameter: 4.0 m
Fairing Height: 12.1 m

Mission Details

Queqiao-2

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.

Payloads: 1
Selenocentric

Tiandu 1 & 2

Two small satellites testing cis-lunar space navigation and inter-satellite communication techniques by CNSA’s Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL).

Payloads: 2
Selenocentric

Location

LC-201, Wenchang Space Launch Site, China

Stats

2024

52nd orbital launch attempt

Long March 8

3rd mission
1st mission of 2024
3rd successful mission