🚀 China's Queqiao-2 relay satellite has just achieved a stellar milestone by entering lunar orbit! 🌙 After a thrilling 112-hour journey, the satellite performed a precise perilune braking maneuver around 440 kilometers from the moon's surface, smoothly sliding into orbit, as announced by the China National Space Administration (CNSA).
Launched on March 20 aboard the Long March-8 Y3 carrier rocket, Queqiao-2 is set to play a pivotal role in the fourth phase of China's lunar exploration program. Its mission? To serve as a communication bridge for the upcoming Chang'e-4, -6, -7, and -8 lunar missions, ensuring a constant flow of data between Earth and the moon's far side.
But what's perilune braking, you ask? 🧐 Think of it as hitting the brakes on a cosmic highway! As Queqiao-2 approached the moon, it needed to slow down just enough to be captured by the moon's gravity. By reducing its speed below the moon's escape velocity, it successfully slipped into a stable lunar orbit after about 19 heart-pounding minutes.
Joining Queqiao-2 on this epic journey were the Tiandu-1 and Tiandu-2 experimental communication satellites. These trailblazing tech companions also executed perilune braking and are now orbiting the moon, ready to test new communication technologies.
This achievement marks another giant leap in space exploration, not just for China but for all of humanity. It's a reminder that with innovation and determination, we can reach for the stars—and beyond! ✨
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
