China's Queqiao-2 Satellite Ready for Global Lunar Mission Support

China's Queqiao-2 Satellite Ready for Global Lunar Mission Support

Tokyo, Japan (SPX) May 20, 2025 Queqiao-2, China's dedicated relay satellite for lunar landing missions, is now poised to support both domestic and international lunar exploration efforts, according to the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory. First launched in March 2024, Queqiao-2, also known as Magpie Bridge 2, played a critical role in the Chang'e 6 mission, which successfully retrieved samples from the far side of the

Moon Monday #225: Lots of global lunar mission updates 🌙

Illustration showing satellite elements of China’s Queqiao lunar navigation and communications constellation. Image: CNSA / CASCKey news of the month: China has achieved the first ever daytime Earth-Moon distance measurement wherein a 1.2-meter telescope reflected an infrared laser off of a small retroreflector on the 61-kilogram Tiandu 1 lunar orbiter. This was accomplished despite massive interference from our Sun. Tiandu 1 was launched alongs…