Queqiao-2 launch

The Long March-8 Y3 launch vehicle (长征八号遥三) launched the Queqiao-2 relay satellite (鹊桥二号中继星, Magpie Bridge-2) from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site, Hainan Province, China, on 20 March 2024, at 00:31 UTC (08:31 local time). According to the China National Space Administration, “after 24 minutes of flight, the satellite separated from the rocket, and entered the planned Earth-Moon transfer orbit with the perigee at 200 kilometres and the apogee at 420,000 kilometres”. Queqiao-2 will provide communications services for the Chang’e-4, Chang’e-6, Chang’e-7 and Chang’e-8 lunar missions. Credit: China Central Television (CCTV)/China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) Long March-8 Y3 launches Queqiao-2