China launches a satellite to travel to the moon’s hidden side   

China began a new chapter in its long-term lunar exploration program on Wednesday with the launch of a satellite.

The satellite will serve as a communications link between future missions on the moon's far side and ground operations on Earth.

The 1.2-metric-ton Queqiao-2, named after a legendary bridge built of magpies, and two tiny satellites, Tiandu-1 and -2, were carried by a Long March 8 rocket that took off from the southern island province of Hainan, according to state media.

The near side of the moon is constantly facing Earth. As a result, there can be no direct line of sight, making data transfers from the distant side impossible. In its orbit around the moon, Queqiao-2 will transmit and receive signals for the Chang'e-6 mission, which is scheduled to launch in May. For the first time, lunar material will be obtained from the moon's hidden side as the robotic Chang'e-6 mission attempts to gather samples from an ancient basin. Additionally, Queqiao-2 will serve as a relay platform for the Chang'e-8 mission in 2028 and the Chang'e-7 lunar mission in 2026.

By 2040, Queqiao-2 will be a part of a network of relay satellites that will act as a communications link for crewed lunar missions and extraterrestrial exploration, including Mars and Venus. The tiny satellites Tiandu-1 and -2 will carry out tests in order to build a constellation. The constellation will also support China's research station, which is slated to be located at the south pole of the moon, with communications, navigation, and remote sensing capabilities.

Queqiao-2 will be deployed alongside six other orbiters that have been launched by nations such as the US, India, and Japan.