Yesterday, China sent space, on the Long March-4C rocket, the first important element of its imminent mission to the moon. It is the Chang'e 4R communication satellite (Queqiao), with which the Chinese National Space Agency (CNSA) intends to manage the entire mission of the lander and rover.
At the end of this year, they are to land on the invisible Earth surface of the Silver Globe and conduct some important scientific experiments there. They will be necessary when planning the first manned mission for the natural satellite of the Earth.
The Queqiao satellite name comes from a Chinese legend in which the magpie herd forms a bridge once a year along the Milky Way. It allows you to meet lovers, Shepherd and Weaver.
The device weighs 425 kilograms, has been equipped with a 4.2 meter wide antenna, built by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) and is to be used to communicate with robots moving on the surface of the Moon for about 5 years. The communication satellite will ultimately be located at the L2 lib libation point of the Earth-Moon system. This will allow constant communication in both sides.
The Chinese National Space Agency (CNSA) has placed two experiments on board satellites. The first of these is the Netherlands-China Low-Frequency Explorer and will be used to listen radio astronomy, and the second is laser distance meters.
The Middle Kingdom put a presentation of their future missions to the network some time ago. It is true that he does not give it when he intends to start building the base on the moon, but unofficially speaking about the area around 2030.
The database itself will consist of several modules. Each of them will have a different role. The Chinese National Space Agency plans to build the first base in the areas of the South Pole of the Silver Globe.
There are craters in the dark and cool, in which there are huge amounts of water ice. Scientists plan to use it to provide oxygen and water to astronauts, but also hydrogen fuel.