Hey space enthusiasts! 🚀 Big news from the Chinese mainland's space endeavors!
China's communication and navigation technology test satellites, Tiandu-1 and Tiandu-2, have just nailed some out-of-this-world experiments! 🌌 According to Science and Technology Daily on Monday, they've successfully carried out highly reliable Earth-Moon transmission and routing tests.
What does that mean? Well, telemetric data shows this project could seriously boost the accuracy of spacecraft when figuring out lunar orbits. Talk about leveling up our space game! 🌕
These two space buddies were launched into the cosmos alongside the Queqiao-2 relay satellite on March 20. By March 29, they slid into their target circumlunar orbits, and on April 3, they went their separate ways. But wait, the adventure continues!
On April 8, Tiandu-1 started doing formation flying with Tiandu-2, keeping a cool 200 kilometers apart. They're operating with stable communication, attitude, and energy balance. Basically, they're in sync and cruising! ✨
This teamwork is laying down the groundwork for a series of epic communication technology test missions. Plus, Tiandu-2 has already snapped and sent back some stunning Earth-Moon group selfies! 📸🌍🌙
Fun fact: Queqiao-2, Tiandu-1, and Tiandu-2 are all hanging out in a highly elliptical lunar frozen orbit. This orbit is super stable, helping the spacecraft travel with minimal trajectory deviation. Less drifting, more exploring! 🚀
Stay tuned, space fans! The sky isn't the limit anymore; it's just the beginning. 🌠
Reference(s):
China's Tiandu satellites take Earth-Moon transmissions, routing tests
cgtn.com
