China has launched a relay satellite as part of a groundbreaking programme to be the first to land a spacecraft on the far side of the moon later this year.
China hopes to become the first country to soft-land a probe on the moon’s far side, also known as the dark side because it faces away from Earth and is comparatively unknown.
The satellite is named Quegiao or Magpie Bridge after an ancient Chinese folk tale about an arc formed by birds which reunites two lovers.
It is set to connect the ground station with the lunar probe which is due to launch later this year.
The satellite was launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in the south-western province of Sichuan at 5.28am local time on Monday (21:28 UTC on Sunday/ 22:28 BST, 17:28 ET) the space administration said.
China has launched a relay satellite as part of a groundbreaking programme to be the first to land a spacecraft on the far side of the moon later this year
The satellite split from its carrier, a Long March-4C rocket, after 25 minutes and unfolded its solar panels and communication antennas, as it headed towards its destination.
It will relay communications between controllers on Earth and the far side of the moon, where the Chang’e-4 lunar probe – named after the moon goddess in Chinese mythology – will be sent later this year.
The launch is a ‘key step’ but the satellite’s mission must still overcome challenges including making multiple adjustments to its orbit, ‘braking’ near the moon and using lunar gravity to its advantage, project manager Zhang Lihua was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua News Agency.
Queqiao was expected to arrive shortly at the Earth-moon Lagrange point 2, a gravitationally stable spot located 64,000 kilometres (40,000 miles) beyond the far side of the moon.
No space programme has reached this part of the moon due to communication difficulties.
Without such a communications relay link, spacecraft on the far side would have to ‘send their signals through the moon’s rocky bulk’, space.com said.
China hopes to become the first country to soft-land a probe on the moon’s far side, also known as the dark side because it faces away from Earth and is comparatively unknown
The Chang’e-4 lunar probe will carry seeds for growing potatoes and a flowering plant related to cabbage for a ‘lunar mini biosphere’ experiment, writes the Guardian.
The satellite will have a radio antennae for researchers to study the early universe.
It is helpful to be in the shadow of the moon as there are better radio signals out into the universe, according to Liu Tongjie, deputy director of China’s Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center.
China previously landed its Jade Rabbit rover on the moon and plans to land its Chang’e 5 probe there next year.
The satellite split from its carrier, a Long March-4C rocket (pictured), after 25 minutes and unfolded its solar panels and communication antennas, as it headed towards its destination
Queqiao was expected to arrive shortly at the Earth-moon Lagrange point 2, a gravitationally stable spot located 64,000 kilometres (40,000 miles) beyond the far side of the moon (pictured)
It is planning to have it return to Earth with samples – the first time that has been done since 1976.
China conducted its first crewed space mission in 2003, making it only the third country after Russia and the US to do so, and has put two space stations into orbit.
Upcoming missions include the launch of the 20-ton core module for the still orbiting Tiangong 2 station, along with specialised components for a 60-ton station that is due to come online in 2022.
It also has a Mars rover planned for the mid-2020s.
However, the failure of China’s Long March 5 rocket last year was seen as dealing a rare setback to the highly successful space programme, delaying some missions and offering rival India a chance to move ahead in the space rankings.