Sci-Tech

The Magpie Bridge 2 relay star is in place and can communicate with the South Pole of the Moon

2024-04-12   

On April 12th, the reporter learned from the National Space Administration that the Queqiao 2 relay satellite has completed in orbit communication testing. After evaluation, the relay satellite platform and payload are working normally, and their functions and performance meet the mission requirements. They can provide relay communication services for the fourth phase of the lunar exploration project and subsequent domestic and foreign lunar exploration missions, and the mission has been successfully completed. After its launch on March 20th, the Magpie Bridge 2 relay satellite underwent intermediate corrections, near moon braking, and lunar orbit maneuvers, and entered a planned 24-hour elliptical mission orbit around the moon on April 2nd. On April 6th, the Magpie Bridge 2 relay satellite successfully completed communication testing with Chang'e-4, which is conducting exploration missions on the far side of the moon. From April 8th to 9th, communication tests were conducted between the Queqiao 2 relay satellite and the Chang'e-6 probe (in ground condition). The Tiandu 1 and Tiandu 2 navigation technology test satellites, which were previously launched synchronously, entered the lunar mission orbit on March 29th. On April 3rd, the dual satellite separation was successfully implemented, and a series of navigation technology verifications are currently underway. The Magpie Bridge 2 relay star and Tiandu experimental star use a frozen orbit around the moon as their mission orbits. Due to the irregular shape and structure of the moon, spacecraft flying close to the moon are susceptible to deviations in their flight orbits due to factors such as lunar gravity. The frozen orbit of the large elliptical orbit around the moon is a stable orbit, and spacecraft flying in this orbit can minimize the deviation of the flight orbit. Choosing the frozen orbit around the moon as the mission orbit of Magpie Bridge 2 has many advantages. One is to improve communication speed. Compared with the Magpie Bridge, the mission orbit of Magpie Bridge 2 is closer to the moon, and the communication speed of data transmission will be greatly improved. Secondly, it provides better coverage for communication at the South Pole of the Moon. Compared with the Magpie Bridge, which orbits around the Lagrange L2 point of the Earth Moon, Magpie Bridge II in its elliptical mission orbit significantly improves its visibility to the South Pole of the Moon, significantly enhancing its communication coverage capability in the South Pole region of the Moon. The third is to save satellite fuel, and Queqiao II can maintain long-term residency in this orbit with minimal fuel. Subsequently, the Queqiao 2 relay satellite will provide relay communication services for the Chang'e-4 and the upcoming Chang'e-6 missions as planned, and carry out corresponding scientific explorations at the appropriate time. (Lai Xin She)

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