China launches important satellite for lunar missions New decision by the US Federal Reserve: no interest rate cut expected

A ‘Long March-8 Y’ launch vehicle carrying the ‘Queqiao-2’ relay satellite lifted off from the cosmodrome on South China’s Hainan island on Wednesday morning (local time), the official Xinhua news agency reported.

According to the Chinese space agency CNSA, “Queqiao-2” will be used for communications for upcoming projects on Earth’s satellite. In 2019, the People’s Republic had already successfully placed the ‘Chang’e-4’ probe on the moon and previously launched the first ‘Queqiao’ relay satellite into space, with which the spacecraft later sent images to Earth.

The relay satellite forms a communications triangle and allows the control center to send signals from Earth to the far side of the moon. Queqiao means Bridge of Magpies. According to a Chinese folk tale, a weaver and a cowherd were united here.

This spring, China wants to land a probe on the south side of the moon with the “Chang’e-6” mission to take soil samples there. “Queqiao-2” will also aid in this effort to ensure communications on the far side of the moon. The ruling Communist Party wants to complete the People’s Republic’s first manned lunar mission, “Chang’e-8,” by 2030.

The moon was no longer a problem for the major spacefaring nations for a long time. That has now changed: China’s lunar exploration program competes with those of the US, Japan and India. However, China’s space program recently suffered a setback when the Chinese satellites “DRO-A” and “DRO-B” missed their planned orbit after their launch last Wednesday. According to media reports, the satellites apparently had the moon in their sights. (sda/dpa)