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.
Rendering of Queqiao satellite | |
Mission type | Communication relay Radio astronomy |
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Operator | CNSA |
COSPAR ID | 2018-045A |
SATCAT no. | 43470 |
Mission duration | Planned: 5 years 5 years, 8 months, 26 days (in progress) |
Spacecraft properties | |
Bus | CAST100 |
Manufacturer | DFH Satellite Company LTD |
Launch mass | 448.7 kilograms (989 lb) |
Dry mass | 325 kilograms (717 lb) |
Dimensions | Satellite: 1.4 × 1.4 × 0.85 m Antenna: 4.2 metres (14 ft) in diameter |
Power | 800W |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 20 May 2018 21:28 UTC |
Rocket | Long March 4C |
Launch site | Xichang Satellite Launch Center LC-3 |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Halo orbit |
Earth-Moon L2 point orbiter | |
Orbital insertion | 14 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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