China is preparing to launch its second relay satellite, Queqiao-2, which will play a critical role in supporting the country's lunar exploration missions. The Queqiao-2 satellite is designed to establish a communication link between Earth and the far side of the Moon, where future rovers and landers will operate, making it impossible to communicate directly with Earth due to the lunar body blocking the signal.
The original Queqiao relay satellite was launched in May 2018 and has been successfully facilitating communications for the Chang'e-4 mission, which made history by becoming the first spacecraft to land on the Moon's far side in January 2019. Queqiao-2 will serve as a backup or an enhancement to the existing relay satellite, ensuring uninterrupted communication during lunar exploration activities.
The launch of Queqiao-2 is part of China's ambitious lunar exploration program, which includes plans to send astronauts to the Moon and establish a research base there. The satellite is expected to be launched using a Long March rocket, although specific details regarding the launch date and the exact type of Long March rocket have not been disclosed at the time of my knowledge cutoff in early 2023.
Once in orbit around the Earth-Moon L2 point, which is a gravitationally stable location beyond the Moon, Queqiao-2 will be able to maintain a clear line of sight to both the lunar far side and Earth, allowing for continuous data transmission between the two. The satellite will likely carry advanced communication equipment to handle high volumes of scientific data and ensure reliable communication for any lunar missions operating on the far side of the Moon.
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