What are China doing on the moon?

China National Space Administration head Zhang Kejian announced that China is planning to build a scientific research station on the Moon’s south pole “within the next 10 years,” (2019–2029).

Does China have a satellite around the moon?

China achieved humanity’s first soft landing on the far side of the Moon, on 3 January 2019. A communication relay satellite, Queqiao, was first launched to a halo orbit near the Earth–Moon L2 point in May 2018. The mission is the follow-up to Chang’e 3, the first Chinese landing on the Moon.

When did China last go to the Moon?

The findings fill a vital gap in the Moon’s geology, and will also help scientists to understand the history of other Solar System bodies. China achieved a historic feat when its Chang’e-5 lander touched down on the Moon on 1 December 2020, scooped up samples of the lunar surface and lifted off again two days later.

Does China have space program?

The space program of the People’s Republic of China is directed by the China National Space Administration (CNSA). Plans currently include a permanent Chinese space station by the end of 2022, crewed expeditions to the Moon and interplanetary missions to explore the Solar System and beyond.

Did China launch a rocket to the Moon?

On December 14, 2013, China successfully landed Chang’e 3 Moon lander and its rover Yutu on Moon surface. It made China the third country in the world capable of performing lunar soft landing, just after USSR and the United States. In 2016, Tiangong-2 and Shenzhou 11 were launched into Low Earth orbit.

What is China’s Queqiao satellite?

This tiny probe was launched into space along with China’s Queqiao satellite, a communications probe that’s been critical for the country’s recent Chang’e-4 lunar lander. At the beginning of the year, Chang’e-4 successfully touched down on the far side of the Moon — the side that’s always facing away from Earth.

Can you spot the Earth hanging out of the Moon?

A Chinese satellite currently in lunar orbit snapped this incredible image of the far side of the Moon, with a tiny Earth hanging out in the background. Captured on February 3rd, the picture offers a rare perspective of the Earth and Moon system together.

What happened to China’s Longjiang-2 satellite?

Longjiang-2 actually had a companion satellite, Longjiang-1, and both were tasked with orbiting and observing the Moon. But China ultimately lost contact with Longjiang-1 en route. Luckily, Longjiang-2 was a success, and it took some stunning pictures last fall.

Can Longjiang-2 take a time-lapse of the Moon and Earth?

The probe started taking a time-lapse of the Earth-Moon system on February 3rd, and the first photo of that sequence was downloaded by the Dwingeloo Radio Observatory in the Netherlands yesterday. This is the first time that Longjiang-2 has captured the entire Moon and Earth in one shot.