Queqiao-2 Relay Satellite

System details

Operator

CNSA

Category

Relay system

Orbit

Retrograde elliptical (frozen) lunar orbit, ~254 × 16,941 km, inclination ~119°, ~26 h period

Frequency bands

X-band to surface assets (4.2 m deployable antenna) + Ka-band payload data to ground + S-band TT&C + UHF

Coverage

Lunar farside and south-pole relay; can support up to 10 surface/orbital probes simultaneously

Design life

8–10 years

Constellation

1-satellite constellation

Full service

Operational since 2024-03-24

Customer

CNSA

Overview

China's primary lunar relay satellite. Launched 2024-03-20, entered lunar orbit 2024-03-24. Elliptical frozen orbit 200 × 16,000 km, inclination 62.4°. 8-10 year design life. Supports Chang'e-4 (far-side rover), Chang'e-6 (far-side sample return), and upcoming Chang'e-7/8 south-pole missions. Relay payload reliability characterized as 'high' by CNSA mission analysis.

Related relay system systems

• Parsec Lunar NetworkCrescent Space (Lockheed Martin subsidiary)
• Near Space Network (NSN) — Lunar Relay IDIQNASA SCaN (commercial providers)
• Lunar PathfinderESA (built by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd) — service via Goonhilly Earth Station