China launches new lunar communications satellite! [Long March 8 Y3]

China's second communications satellite in support of lunar exploration is headed toward the Moon.

The Long March 8 Y3 lifting off from Launch Complex 2 in the background with a crowd watching in the foreground. ©黑白猫名字被占用 via Wu Lei

In the early hours of the 20th of March, a Long March 8 rocket lifted off from Launch Complex 2 at the Wenchang Space Launch Site. Onboard the rocket were three satellites bound for the Moon. The three satellites are Queqiao-2, Tiandu-1, and Tiandu-2.

The Long March 8 launch vehicle flew for the planned twenty-four minutes placing its second-stage and the three payloads onto a 200 by 420,000 kilometer orbit of Earth. Queqiao-2 separated from the second-stage first and successfully deployed its solar panels and antenna shortly after. Tiandu-1, carrying Tiandu-2, separated a reported two minutes later. All three of the spacecraft are reportedly health at this time as they head out towards the Moon.

The remainder of this article is available on Cosmic Nxws.

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