Queqiao-2 — launch
Date in UTC
Queqiao-2 is a Chinese lunar communications-relay satellite launched on March 20, 2024. It was designed to support operations on the Moon, including communication with the Chang’e 6 sample-return mission on the far side. The spacecraft entered an elliptical lunar orbit, providing a relay path between Earth and lunar missions that cannot maintain a direct radio link. It also carries scientific instruments for observations from lunar orbit.
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queqiao-2. Original timeline Wikipedia link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queqiao. Related NASA reference: https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/chronology.html#2024.
- Category
- Launches and Flight Tests
- Type
- Orbital launch
- Subjects
- Space transportation
- Mission
- Queqiao-2
- Organization
- Chinese Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology
- Vehicle
- Chang Zheng 8
- Location
- Wenchang Space Center, Hainan
- Country
- CN
- Outcome
- Successful
Context and qualifications
Launch code: DS. Source references: nasaspaceflight.com; xinhuanet.com.
Sources and attribution
- Jonathan McDowell — General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects (opens in a new tab) — Data from GCAT (J. McDowell, planet4589.org/space/gcat), CC BY 4.0. Adapted into anniversary records. (CC BY 4.0)
- Wikipedia — Queqiao 2 (opens in a new tab) — Factual synthesis based on the cited Wikipedia and NASA pages; original editorial wording. (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Original Wikipedia link from NSE timeline (opens in a new tab) (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Timeline of Space Exploration Missions 1957 to 2031 (opens in a new tab)
- NASA — Queqiao 2 (opens in a new tab)
- NASA NSSDCA — Queqiao 2 (opens in a new tab)