On April 15 in Beijing, during the Earth-Moon Space DRO Exploration Research Academic Symposium, Chinese scientists unveiled a breakthrough in space exploration. Under the auspices of the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ A-class strategic pioneer project, three satellites have been successfully deployed to form the world's first three-satellite constellation in the Earth-Moon region.
Launched a year ago, the mission positioned one satellite in a sun-synchronous orbit at roughly 500 kilometers while targeting two satellites for the distant retrograde orbit (DRO). Despite an initial anomaly that saw these two satellites reach only half their intended altitude—an apogee of 134,000 kilometers—a rapid and skillful rescue operation corrected their course. The DRO, located between 310,000 and 450,000 kilometers from Earth and 70,000 to 100,000 kilometers from the Moon, offers major advantages: low-energy entry (using only a fifth of the conventional fuel), long-term stability for operations up to a century, and enhanced maneuverability for efficient transitions to nearby regions or even the lunar surface.
Wang Wenbin from the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Space Application Engineering and Technology Center emphasized that the mission marked the international debut of satellite-to-satellite tracking. By converting a traditional ground station into a low Earth orbit tracking satellite, this innovation paves the way for future Earth-Moon and deep space exploration.
This pioneering achievement not only cements China’s strategic advantage in space but also lays a robust technological foundation for upcoming missions. Space is the new frontier, and this accomplishment is sure to inspire a generation of cosmic explorers! 🚀🌕
Reference(s):
China Pioneers Earth-Moon Exploration with First Three-Satellite Constellation
cctv.com
