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China Aerospace Science and Technology CorporationLaunch Successful
Queqiao-2
Long March 8
Historical mission record
This page records Long March 8 | Queqiao-2 and its reported outcome: Launch Successful. The date above is a historical record.
Source record updated . This is a source update, not a confirmed launch time.
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Mission status
Launch Successful
Status reported by the mission data provider.
LAUNCH SITEWenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China
Mission
Queqiao-2 is a Chinese artificial satellite to serve as a communications relay for future Chinese lunar far side missions that cannot communicate directly with the Earth, beginning with the Chang'e 6 lunar sample return mission in 2024. It will operate from a Distant Retrograde Orbit (DRO) of the Moon. The launch also carries the Tiandu-1 & 2 small satellites testing cis-lunar space navigation and inter-satellite communication techniques for CNSA’s Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL).
- Launch vehicle
- Long March 8
- Mission type
- Planetary Science
- Destination orbit
- Lunar Orbit
- Launch pad
- 201
- Provider
- China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
- Programs
- Chinese Lunar Exploration Program
The vehicle
Published configuration and flight history.
Launch vehicle
Long March 8
Long March 8 (Chinese: 长征八号运载火箭) 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). The rocket is based on the Long March 7 with its first stage and 2 out of its 4 boosters, along with the existing liquid hydrogen burning 3rd stage of the Long March 3A/3B/3C and 7A as its 2nd stage. A "Core Only" version omitting the boosters is also available.
- Height
- 50.34 m
- Diameter
- 3.35 m
- Stages
- 2
- Recorded launches
- 3
- First flight
- 2020-12-22
Recorded timing
This is a mission record, not an upcoming calendar appointment.
1h 55m windowPublished target
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Target ·
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Launch site & orbit
Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China
The mission in perspective
Launch site
DestinationLunar Orbit
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Coverage & sources
Links supplied by the mission data provider.
Coverage and times may change.
Further reading
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