March 20, 2024 12:31 am

Queqiao-2

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Long March 8

Wenchang Space Launch Site, People’s Republic of China
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March 20, 2024 12:31 am

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Last Updated:

2026-07-11 11:38:43

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).
Launch Overview
Window Open 00:21 UTC
Window Close 02:16 UTC
Lift Off Mar 20, 2024 · 00:31 UTC
Launch Facility Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China
Launch Pad 201
Target Orbit Lunar Orbit
Payload Overview
Customer China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
Payload Queqiao-2
Rocket Long March 8
Destination Lunar Orbit
Recovery Overview
Landing Location See Mission Notes
Landing Type RTLS / Droneship
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).

Height

LEO Payload

Total Launches

Status

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
201
Launch Overview
Window Open 00:21 UTC
Window Close 02:16 UTC
Lift Off Mar 20, 2024 · 00:31 UTC
Launch Facility Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China
Launch Pad 201
Target Orbit Lunar Orbit
Payload Overview
Customer China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
Payload Queqiao-2
Rocket Long March 8
Destination Lunar Orbit
Recovery Overview
Landing Location See Mission Notes
Landing Type RTLS / Droneship

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