On a landmark day for lunar exploration, China successfully launched the Queqiao-2 satellite, marking a significant leap in its quest to explore the lesser-known far side of the moon. This strategic initiative took flight on Wednesday aboard a Long March 8 rocket from Hainan, a southern island province, introducing not only the Queqiao-2 but also two smaller companions, Tiandu-1 and Tiandu-2, into space.
Named after a legendary bridge in Chinese mythology, Queqiao-2 is destined to play a crucial role in the forthcoming Chang’e lunar expeditions. Its primary mission is to ensure seamless communication for the Chang’e-6 mission, scheduled for May, which aims to pioneer the collection and return of lunar samples from an untouched ancient basin on the moon’s far side.
But the ambition of Queqiao-2 extends beyond just one mission. It is poised to support the Chang’e-7 and Chang’e-8 missions planned for 2026 and 2028, respectively, as China endeavors to demystify the moon’s obscured hemisphere. This hemisphere remains a mystery, hidden from Earth’s view, and Queqiao-2’s mission is a bold step towards bridging this gap in human knowledge.
In a visionary move, China plans for Queqiao-2 to be a linchpin in a vast network of relay satellites by 2040. This network will not only bolster lunar communications but also facilitate manned moon missions and exploratory voyages to other planets, including Mars and Venus. The Tiandu satellites launched alongside Queqiao-2 will test the waters for this ambitious project, aiming to establish a robust infrastructure for China’s moon-based research station at the lunar south pole.
Queqiao-2’s advent into space places it among a global array of lunar orbiters, alongside those from the United States, India, and Japan. Its meticulously designed orbit near the moon’s south pole is expected to provide over eight hours of direct communication with Earth, according to satellite designer Zhang Lihua. This capability is vital for China’s aspirations to not only further lunar exploration but also to prepare for the historic landing of Chinese astronauts on the moon by 2030.
Taking the baton from its predecessor, Queqiao-1, which facilitated the historic Chang’e-4 mission’s soft landing on the moon’s far side, Queqiao-2 is on a path to perpetuate and expand upon the legacy of lunar exploration. Through Queqiao-2’s journey, China continues to push the frontiers of space exploration, shedding light on the dark side of the moon and beyond, in a quest to broaden humanity’s understanding of the cosmos.
