Long March 8 — mission imagery
Back to launches
Success

Queqiao-2

Long March 8China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation201
Wednesday, March 20, 2024 · 12:31 AM UTCAdd to Calendar

This mission is complete.

Vehicle

Long March 8

Profile →

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 or...

Height50.3 m
LEO Payload8,100 kg
Launches612
Successes589

Provider

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

Profile →

CHN • Founded 1999

The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) is the main contractor for the Chinese space program. It is state-owned and has a number of subordinate entities which design, develop and manufactu...

Mission Brief

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).

PayloadQueqiao-2
OrbitLunar Orbit
CustomerChinese Lunar Exploration Program
Stages2
Pad201, Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

Mission Timeline

14 / 14100%

Ground vector

Launch site

Site locked

201

Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

Global range
SITE LOCK
Latitude
19.618°N
Longitude
110.955°E

Range Weather

Launch commit criteria

Clear
Watch
TrackingNo active constraints
Weather Rules

Tracking no weather issues at this time.

Primary concern
No weather issues
Rule count
0
Temperature
Not reported
Surface wind
Not reported
Window

12:21 AM UTC - 02:16 AM UTC

Schedule History

No delays or schedule changes recorded.