The Queqiao-2 relay satellite is scheduled to be launched in 2024. What will the satellite of the satellite do?

China Science and Technology News Network, January 18 (Xu Qiqi) According to CCTV News, according to the overall arrangement of the lunar exploration project, my country will launch the "Queqiao" No. 2 relay satellite in 2024 to provide relay communication services for the subsequent Chang'e 6, 7, and 8 missions.

(Photo source: CCTV News)

The chief designer of the third phase of the lunar exploration project said that the Chang'e-6 probe will land on the back of the moon, hoping that it can collect more different samples. The design life of the Chang'e-4 relay satellite is about to expire, and the Chang'e-6, which is planned to land on the back of the moon, needs a relay satellite to support its work.

A relay satellite is a type of communication satellite, known as a "satellite of satellites". The main function of this type of satellite is data transmission. The relay satellite "Queqiao" of the Chang'e-4 lunar probe was launched on May 21, 2018. "Queqiao" is China's first and the world's first dedicated relay communication satellite outside the Earth's orbit. Relay satellites have the advantages of high coverage, good real-time performance, and high cost-effectiveness.

The far side of the moon is farther from the earth, and the communication signal is very poor, so relay satellites are needed to assist. "Queqiao" is a bridge connecting the earth and the Chang'e-4 probe. It provides data and signal transmission forwarding for Chang'e-4 and transmits various commands from the ground to it.

The Queqiao-2 relay satellite, which will assist Chang'e-6, has been upgraded based on Queqiao. The overall capability and level of Queqiao-2 will be greatly improved.