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Testing, testing … China to try out new satellite tech for Chang’e 6 lunar mission
- Two Tiandu experimental devices will be launched to verify the design of an orbiting relay station for exploration on the far side of the moon
- Tests on the units will help refine the Queqiao constellation sending messages between the Earth and lunar rovers
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Zhang Tongin Beijing
China is readying two experimental satellites for launch into lunar orbit to help test a communication and navigation system for the country’s mission to explore the far side of the moon.
The two satellites, the Tiandu 1 and Tiandu 2, will lift off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in southern province of Hainan in the first half of the year along with the Queqiao 2 lunar relay satellite, according to state news agency Xinhua.
The Tiandu satellites will arrive at site on Wednesday while the Queqiao 2 has already been delivered.
The Queqiao 2 is designed to relay signals from Earth to equipment on the far side of the lunar surface as part of the Chang’e 6 mission, which will launch in May to collect samples and return them to Earth.
But the complexity and weaker signals associated with the Queqiao 2’s lunar orbit require extensive testing.
The report said the two Tiandu satellites would be used to test and verify the design of the Queqiao constellation for lunar communication, navigation and remote sensing, offering valuable insights and foundational data for the network’s development.
Tong earned his Bachelor's degree from Tianjin University and Master's degree from the University of Washington. His major was Chemical Engineering and Data Science. He used to work as an editor of academic journals. He is enthusiastic about news writing and finding stories behind scientific research.
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