China takes a critical first step toward landing on the far side of the Moon

[Judi Lynn]

The Queqiao spacecraft is now on its way toward L2.
ERIC BERGER - 5/20/2018, 7:40 PM



The far side of the Moon. No robotic spacecraft has ever made a soft landing here. NASA

China's space agency has taken a critical first step toward an unprecedented robotic landing on the far side of the Moon. On Monday, local time, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation launched a Long March 4C rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. Although it did not broadcast the launch, the Chinese space agency said it went smoothly, according to the state news service Xinhua.

"The launch is a key step for China to realize its goal of being the first country to send a probe to soft-land on and rove the far side of the Moon," Zhang Lihua, manager of the relay satellite project, told Xinhua.

About 25 minutes after the launch, the Queqiao spacecraft separated from the rocket's upper stage, and began a trip toward a halo orbit of the Earth-Moon Lagrange Point L2. Over the next six months, the 425kg spacecraft will undergo tests to ensure it will function properly as a communications relay.

If so, China will then attempt to launch the Chang'e 4 spacecraft late this year, which will try to make an unprecedented soft landing on the far side of the Moon. This mission will also include a rover to undertake scientific excursions.

More:
https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/05/china-has-launched-a-communications-satellite-to-the-moon/

[Ohiogal]

1. Can they put Trump on that spaceship?

[democratisphere]

2. Elon Musk has already reserved a one way ticket for drumpf

to the surface of the sun where it is warmer.