Queqiao relay satellite

Queqiao relay satellite (Chinese: 鹊桥号中继卫星; pinyin: Quèqiáo hào zhōngjì wèixīng; lit. 'Magpie Bridge relay satellite'), also known as the Chang'e 4 Relay, is a communications relay and radio astronomy satellite for the Chang'e 4 lunar farside mission. As part of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) launched the Queqiao relay satellite on 20 May 2018 to a halo orbit around the Earth–Moon L2 Lagrangian point Queqiao is the first ever communication relay and radio astronomy satellite at this location.

Queqiao
Rendering of Queqiao satellite
Mission typeCommunication relay
Radio astronomy
OperatorCNSA
COSPAR ID2018-045A
SATCAT no.43470
Mission durationPlanned: 5 years
5 years, 8 months, 26 days (in progress)
Spacecraft properties
BusCAST100
ManufacturerDFH Satellite Company LTD
Launch mass448.7 kilograms (989 lb)
Dry mass325 kilograms (717 lb)
DimensionsSatellite: 1.4 × 1.4 × 0.85 m
Antenna: 4.2 metres (14 ft) in diameter
Power800W
Start of mission
Launch date20 May 2018 21:28 UTC
RocketLong March 4C
Launch siteXichang Satellite Launch Center LC-3
Orbital parameters
Reference systemHalo orbit
Earth-Moon L2 point orbiter
Orbital insertion14 June 2018
 

The name Queqiao ("Magpie Bridge") was inspired by and came from the Chinese tale The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl.

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