China plans to launch a Queqiao-2 satellite to provide relay communication services for Chang'e-6, 7 and 8 lunar missions, according to China National Space Administration (CNSA).

Wang Qiong, deputy chief designer of the Chang'e-6 mission, told China Media Group (CMG) that the Chang'e-6 probe, which serves as a backup for the Chang'e-5 probe, is planned to undertake a lunar sample collection mission on the far side of the moon from 2024 to 2025.

Since direct communication with the far side of the moon is not possible, Chang'e-6 will need a relay satellite to support its work. So China will launch the Queqiao-2 in 2024 for the lunar mission, said Hu Hao, chief designer of the third phase of China's lunar exploration project and also chief designer of Chang'e-6.

Compared with Chang'e-4 relay satellite Queqiao, the Queqiao-2 will have a greater improvement in overall level and capability, Hu added.

The designed lifespan of Queqiao is about to end, and China plans to launch Queqiao-2 in 2024 before the Chang'e-6 mission for the country's phase-4 lunar mission, serving Chang'e-6, 7 and 8, Wang added.

Launched in 2022, the phase-4 lunar mission will conduct scientific exploration at the lunar south pole to facilitate the construction of a basic structure for the International Lunar Research Station in the area by 2035.

Wang further said that the goal of Chang'e-6 is to make technological breakthroughs in retrograde orbit design, intelligent sampling, take-off and ascent as well as automatic sampling and return from the moon's backside, besides carrying out effective international cooperation.

Courtesy of CGTN

The Long March 8 is an orbital launch vehicle developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology to launch up to 5000 kg to a 700 km altitude Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO).

Stats

Height Standard: 50.34 m (165.2 ft)

Height Core only: 48 m (157 ft)

Diameter: 3.35 m (11.0 ft)

Mass Standard: 356,000 kg (785,000 lb)

Mass Core only: 198,000 kg (437,000 lb)

Stages: 2

The rocket is based on the Long March 7 with its first stage and two boosters, along with the existing liquid hydrogen burning third stage of the Long March 3A/3B/3C and 7A as its second stage. The boosters are omitted in the "core only" variant that first flew on its second launch in February 2022.

A planned future launch vehicle variant of the Long March 8 will be partially reusable by featuring a combined booster recovery of the first stage and the boosters as a single unit.

The maiden flight of the Long March 8 was launched on 22 December 2020 from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site.

Credit: Wikipedia

Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site

Wenchang is a former suborbital test site located in Wenchang, Hainan, China.

It is China's southernmost launch site. Located on an island, rocket stages are delivered via ship.

Construction of the orbital launch pads began in September 2007, and the launch site was completed in October 2014. The first orbital launch took place on June 25th, 2016.

The site has two active launch pads, with a third planned. LC-1 is used to launch the Chang Zheng 5 rocket while LC-2 is used for the Chang Zheng 7 and 8 rocket families.

Operations at Wenchang are managed by the Xichang Satellite Launch Center.