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China Aerospace Science and Technology CorporationLong March 4CLaunch Complex 3 (LC-3/LA-1), Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Queqiao (Chang'e 4 relay satellite)
Launched
May 20, 2018
Summary
Queqiao (Chang'e 4 relay satellite) launched on a China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 4C from Launch Complex 3 (LC-3/LA-1), Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China on May 20, 2018. It was China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's 222nd launch, 15th this year and humanity's 5,751st orbital launch attempt. It was the 25th Long March 4C flight and the 4th this year. The payload was bound for Lunar Orbit (LO). Queqiao, one of 4 catalogued objects, reached a 402 × 383,117 km orbit inclined 27.5°. 4 objects from this launch are catalogued, 3 of them payloads.
- Watch
- Vehicle
- Long March 4C · China Aerospace Science and Technology CorporationChinese Lunar Exploration Program
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Planetary Science · Lunar Orbit (LO)
- Milestone
- 25th Long March 4C flight · 4th this yearChina Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's 222nd launch15th this yearhumanity's 5,751st orbital launch attempt45th orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
Orbit: as tracked
Queqiao · NORAD 43470 · 2018-045 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 4 objects
Show the numbers for orbit elements
- Object
- TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
- Object ID
- 2018-045A
- Epoch
- 2018-05-20 23:16:48 UTC
- Mean motion
- 0.09844104 rev/day
- Eccentricity
- 0.9658153
- Inclination
- 27.502°
- Ascending node
- 209.521°
- Arg. of perigee
- 171.224°
- Mean anomaly
- 2.096°
- Element set
- 999
- Rev at epoch
- 1
- B*
- 0
Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: LO. Ascent drawn from padside's representative profile.
Catalogued objects
4 catalogued: 3 payloads, 1 rocket stage
- Queqiao · NORAD 43470 · left Earth orbit May 21, 2018
- Longjiang 1 · NORAD 43471 · left Earth orbit May 21, 2018
- Longjiang 2 · NORAD 43472 · left Earth orbit May 21, 2018
CZ-4C Y27 Stage 3 · left Earth orbit May 21, 2018
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
Chang'e 4 is a Chinese lunar exploration mission that will incorporate an orbiter, a robotic lander and rover. The orbiter serves as a communications relay satellite. It will be placed into a halo orbit around the Earth-Moon L2 Lagrange point and is planned to support further missions to the far side of the Moon.
Pad
Launch Complex 3 (LC-3/LA-1), Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
43rd launch from Launch Complex 3 (LC-3/LA-1), 3rd this year · 114th from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
108 launches from this pad · 242 from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
115 days after the previous launch from this pad
All launches from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of ChinaOpen in maps
Questions
When did Queqiao (Chang'e 4 relay satellite) launch?
Queqiao (Chang'e 4 relay satellite) launched on May 20, 2018. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch Queqiao (Chang'e 4 relay satellite)?
Coverage: China Launches Relay Satellite to Explore Moon's Far Side; Long March-4C launches Queqiao (Chang'e-4 relay satellite/ 鹊桥); China launches relay satellite for Chang'e-4 lunar probe. Watch the replay
What rocket launched Queqiao (Chang'e 4 relay satellite)?
Long March 4C, flown by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. Long March 4C spec sheet
Where did Queqiao (Chang'e 4 relay satellite) launch from?
Launch Complex 3 (LC-3/LA-1), Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China.
What orbit did Queqiao (Chang'e 4 relay satellite) reach?
Queqiao, one of 4 catalogued objects, reached a 402 × 383,117 km orbit inclined 27.5°.
How many satellites did Queqiao (Chang'e 4 relay satellite) launch?
3 payloads from this launch are catalogued (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).
Which program is Queqiao (Chang'e 4 relay satellite) part of?
Chinese Lunar Exploration Program. About Chinese Lunar Exploration Program