Home
Science
Science News
China Unveils Plan to Build Magpie Bridge 2 Relay Satellite System for Space Exploration: Report

China Unveils Plan to Build Magpie Bridge-2 Relay Satellite System for Space Exploration: Report

The Magpie Bridge-2 satellite constellation is named after a bridge of magpies in a Chinese myth and the first relay satellite will be launched in 2024.

By Reuters | Updated: 26 April 2023 15:10 IST

China Unveils Plan to Build Magpie Bridge-2 Relay Satellite System for Space Exploration: Report

Photo Credit: Reuters

A screen shows footages of spacecraft for Chang'e-5 Mission

Click Here to Add Gadgets360 As A Trusted Source

Highlights

China plans to launch the Chang'e-6 to retrieve lunar samples in 2024
The Chang'e-7 mission will be launched around 2026
That will be followed by the Chang'e-8 mission around 2028

China will start building relay satellites that by 2030 will act as a communication bridge between missions to the moon and beyond, and ground operations on Earth, Chinese state media reported on Wednesday.

A pilot of the satellite constellation will support China's ongoing lunar exploration programme and the building of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), the official Xinhua news agency reported, citing Wu Yanhua, chief designer of China's deep space exploration project.

To kick off the building of the constellation - called Queqiao-2, or Magpie Bridge-2, named after a bridge made up of magpies in a Chinese myth - a communications relay satellite between the far side of the moon and Earth will be launched in 2024 to support uncrewed lunar missions this decade.

Scientists Design Mobile 3D Printer to Produce mRNA Covid Vaccine Patches

That year, China plans to launch the Chang'e-6 mission to retrieve lunar samples from an ancient basin in the far side of the moon.

The Chang'e-7 mission will be launched around 2026 to explore lunar resources on the moon's south pole, with the aim of sustaining long-term human habitation.

That will be followed by the Chang'e-8 mission around 2028, when a basic model of the ILRS will be constructed. So far, China has secured participation from Russia and Venezuela.

SpaceX Wins Approval to Set Up Fifth US Rocket Launch Site at This Location

China aims to land astronauts on the moon by 2030.

In the next phase, a basic constellation will be constructed around 2040 to support communications, navigation and remote-sensing services for manned lunar and deep space exploration missions to planets such as Mars and Venus, Wu said.

In 2020, the uncrewed Chang'e-5 probe, named after the mythical Chinese goddess of the moon, took back to Earth China's first lunar soil samples.

China to Reportedly Test 3D Printing Technology on Moon to Build Habitats

China made its first lunar landing in 2013, and aims to be a major space power by 2030.

Smartphone companies have launched many compelling devices over the first quarter of 2023. What are some of the best phones launched in 2023 you can buy today? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

Affiliate links may be automatically generated - see our ethics statement for details.

Comments

Get your daily dose of tech news, reviews, and insights, in under 80 characters on Gadgets 360 Turbo. Connect with fellow tech lovers on our Forum. Follow us on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News for instant updates. Catch all the action on our YouTube channel.