Launch index
Launch Successful

Long March 8 | Queqiao-2

March 20, 2024 at 12:31 AM UTC

Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

Long March 8 | Queqiao-2 launch image
Mission imagery · Long March 8

Launch details

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March 20, 2024 at 12:31 AM UTC

Status: Launch Successful · Live feed refreshes every 30 seconds

201

Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China · 19.6185, 110.9554

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Launch site
201

Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

Launch probability
Not published
Window opens
March 20, 2024 at 12:21 AM UTC
Window closes
March 20, 2024 at 2:16 AM UTC
Feed updated
June 15, 2024 at 1:33 PM UTC

Mission description

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).

Vehicle

Long March 8

Long March

Height

50.34 m

Diameter

3.35 m

LEO capacity

8,100 kg

Successful launches

6

Launch complex

201

Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

The Wenchang Space Launch Site is a rocket launch site located in Wenchang on the island of Hainan, in China. Formally a suborbital test center, it currently serves as China's southernmost spaceport. The site was selected for its low latitude, 19° north of the equator, allowing for larger payloads to be launched. It is capable of launching the Long March 5, the heaviest Chinese rocket. Unlike launch facilities on the mainland, Wenchang uses its seaport for deliveries.

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Mission updates

Launch success.

March 20, 2024 at 1:08 AM UTC · Cosmic_Penguin

Liftoff

March 20, 2024 at 12:32 AM UTC · SwGustav

Tweaked T-0.

March 18, 2024 at 7:16 AM UTC · Cosmic_Penguin

Updated launch window per additional NOTAMs.

March 15, 2024 at 11:12 AM UTC · Cosmic_Penguin

Added tentative launch date and window per NOTAMs; Identity of launch with launch vehicle and payload combination uncertain.

March 15, 2024 at 7:51 AM UTC · Cosmic_Penguin