China launches signal relay satellite for mission to moon’s hidden side

On Wednesday, China achieved a significant milestone in its lunar exploration program by launching a satellite designed to facilitate communication between ground operations on Earth and an upcoming mission on the far side of the moon.

According to state media reports, a Long March 8 rocket carrying the 1.2-metric ton Queqiao-2 satellite, named after a mythological bridge made of magpies, along with two miniature satellites, Tiandu-1 and -2, lifted off from the southern island province of Hainan.

Unlike the moon’s near side, which always faces Earth, there is no direct line of sight for data transfers from the far side, Reuters reported.

READ MORE: https://www.reuters.com/technology/space/china-launches-satellite-queqiao-2-upcoming-lunar-missions-2024-03-20/

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