A Long March-8 rocket, carrying the relay satellite Queqiao-2 for Earth-Moon communications blasts off at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province, March 20, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
China launched a new relay satellite on Wednesday to provide Earth-Moon communications services, a key step for its future lunar exploration missions such as retrieving samples from the far side of the moon.
A Long March-8 rocket, carrying the satellite dubbed Queqiao-2, or magpie bridge-2, soared into the sky at 8:31 a.m. from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province.
After 24 minutes of flight, the satellite separated from the rocket, and entered the planned Earth-Moon transfer orbit with the perigee at 200 kilometers and the apogee at 420,000 kilometers. The satellite's solar panels and communications antennae were unfolded, according to the China National Space Administration.
Inquiry slams UK authorities for failures that killed thousands in infected blood scandal
Gallen blanks Cardinals for 6 innings and Diamondbacks score 5 runs in 5th to win 5
Matt Baker reveals the real reason behind him quitting his high
Supreme Court declines to hear challenge to Maryland ban on rifles known as assault weapons
China's intelligently upgraded highways top 3,500 kilometers
Cutter Gauthier, the NCAA's leading scorer, signs 3
Landslides hit Indonesia's Sulawesi island, killing at least 18 people
What's next for Iran after death of its president in crash?
China, Micronesia to elevate ties
Who is Jacob Zuma, the former South African president disqualified from next week's election?
New study interlinks super dust storm, aerosol radiative feedback