China employs a satellite constellation to interact with Chang'e 6 on the moon's distant side.

The Chinese space programme is set to revolutionise lunar exploration with the proposed Queqiao satellite constellation. This ambitious project, slated for completion by 2030, aims to provide communication, navigation, and remote-sensing services for missions to the Moon.

The journey began on May 20, 2018, with the launch of the first relay satellite, Queqiao. The satellite, currently in a halo orbit around the Earth-Moon L2 Legrange point, is behind the Moon with respect to Earth, making it an ideal position for communication with the lunar far side.

Queqiao has already proven its worth, having supported the historic Chang'e 4 mission, the first ever to land on the lunar far side, which occurred in January 2019. In March 2024, Queqiao-2, a larger relay satellite weighing 1,200kg (2,645lb), was launched to extend the constellation's capabilities.

The first phase of the Queqiao constellation, Queqiao v1.0, is expected to be in place by 2030 and will consist of Queqiao-2, Queqiao-3, Tiandu-1, and Tiandu-2 test satellites. The roles of Tiandu-1 and Tiandu-2 are yet to be detailed, but they are expected to support future missions.

The planned name of the first Queqiao version in the final generation of the Queqiao satellite constellation, intended for deployment in the 2040s, is Queqiao-3. This version is expected to offer even higher performance and act as interplanetary relay stations, potentially paving the way for interplanetary missions.

In an effort to further enhance its capabilities, Queqiao v2.0, consisting of 16 satellites, is planned to be deployed between 2030 and 2040. This version will offer improved remote-sensing capabilities, higher bandwidth (1-10 GB/s), and better positioning resolution.

The Queqiao constellation is a significant step forward in China's lunar exploration efforts. With the Chang'e 6 mission, intended to return samples from the far side of the Moon, on the horizon, the Queqiao satellites will play a crucial role in facilitating communication and data transmission. The constellation's future developments, including the interplanetary relay station capabilities of the final generation, promise to push the boundaries of space exploration even further.

China employs a satellite constellation to interact with Chang'e 6 on the moon's distant side.