Relay satellite for Chang'e-4 lunar probe enters desired orbit

The relay satellite for the planned Chang'e-4 lunar probe, which is expected to land softly on the far side of the Moon at the end of this year, has entered its mission orbit, the China National Space Administration announced on Thursday.

The satellite, named Queqiao, or Magpie Bridge, launched on May 21, entered the Halo orbit around the second Lagrangian (L2) point of the Earth-Moon system about 65,000 km from the Moon at 11:06am Beijing Time on Thursday after a journey of more than 20 days.

"The satellite is the world's first communication satellite operating in that orbit, and will lay the foundation for the Chang'e-4, which is expected to become world's first probe soft-landing and roving on the far side of the Moon," said Zhang Hongtai, president of the China Academy of Space Technology.