Author Topic: Queqiao (Chang‘e-4 coms relay sat) - CZ-4C - XSLC - May 20, 2018 (21:28 UTC)  (Read 63606 times)

Offline GELORD

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China to launch relay satellite for Chang'e-4 lunar probe

BEIJING, May 18 (Xinhua) -- China plans to launch a relay satellite into space next Monday, May 21, for the Chang'e-4 lunar probe scheduled later this year.

The Chang'e-4 lunar probe will undertake the first ever soft landing on the far side of the Moon. However, direct communication with the far side of the Moon is not possible, which is one of the many challenges of the Chang'e-4 lunar probe mission.

The relay satellite, named Queqiao, will be responsible for transmitting signals between the Earth station and the Chang'e-4 lander and rover.

Relay satellites are communication satellites that can provide data relay and monitoring services for spacecraft, improving the efficiency and emergency capability of various satellites. They also enable data from earth resource and environmental satellites to be transmitted in real time.

The Chang'e-4 probe will also carry scientific payloads for four countries, including the Netherlands and Germany.

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-05/18/c_137188922.htm
与战士站岗、炊事员做饭一样,航天员是一种职业,工作就是飞行。

Offline input~2

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also a navigation warning:

[NAVTEX Navigational Warnings]
NANSEI SHOTO. SE OF MIYAKO SHIMA. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS DUE TO SPACEFLIGHT 

NO.18-0887        Date:2018/05/18 17 UTC
NANSEI SHOTO. SE OF MIYAKO SHIMA.
HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS DUE TO SPACEFLIGHT
ACTIVITIES. 202131Z TO 202140Z AND
202301Z TO 202310 MAY.
AREA BOUNDED BY
24-24-32N 127-11-17E
23-42-50N 126-58-19E
24-02-31N 125-41-46E
24-44-20N 125-54-18E.

Offline input~2

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Quote
ACTIVITIES. 202131Z TO 202140Z AND 202301Z TO 202310 MAY.
So apparently 2 potential windows for falling debris South of Okinawa
21:31-21:40 UTC or 23:01-23:10

Offline bjornl

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The Dutch payload is kind of a big thing around here. It is intended to receive radio waves from the 'embryonic stage' of the universe, just after the Big Bang. An article from a local newspaper is pretty well readable in Google translated English:

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.omroepgelderland.nl%2Fnieuws%2F2315799%2FNijmeegse-apparatuur-met-Chinese-raket-de-ruimte-in-Spannendste-radio-uitzending-ooit&edit-text=

With a small jab at Elon Musk:
"The radio receiver was developed by Falcke and his team. He compares it with a car radio. Falcke: 'Elon Musk sent a whole car into space with a car radio. Unfortunately it is not on, it does not receive anything. So we just have to send the car radio up there independently to be able to receive something there. '"

Offline Galactic Penguin SST

Phoenix TV, probably the biggest non-state TV station of China, might be carrying the launch live! Treat this as an unconfirmed info though, as I understand that CCTV isn't going to cover it.

I'll be up early at around 21:00 UTC for covering this launch (have to wake up early for work anyway).
Astronomy & spaceflight geek penguin. In a relationship w/ Space Shuttle Discovery. Current Priority: Chasing the Chinese Spaceflight Wonder Egg & A Certain Chinese Mars Rover

Offline Skyrocket

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Any info, which pad is being used for this launch?

Offline input~2

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Any info, which pad is being used for this launch?
LC-3 according to 9ifly

Offline Skylab

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Quote
Update: rocket launch is schedule for 23:28 p.m. (Amsterdam Time). #NCLE @ASTRON_NL @isis_space @Radboud_Uni @RUastro
Source: https://twitter.com/RadRadioLab/status/998304855608446976

Offline Chris Bergin

So that's 30 minutes from the time of this post!
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Online Steven Pietrobon

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Andrew Jones has posted this picture of the vehicle on the pad. Not sure where he got it from.

https://twitter.com/AJ_FI/status/998310123155189760
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Online Steven Pietrobon

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https://twitter.com/RadRadioLab/status/998310404781674498

Radboud Radio Lab
‏ @RadRadioLab
3 minutes ago

T-15 #AllSystemsGo
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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https://twitter.com/aj_fi/status/998311630135013377

Edit to add:

Quote
Someone is streaming from their phone at a viewing area in Xichang satellite launch centre.

https://twitter.com/aj_fi/status/998311982133665793
« Last Edit: 05/20/2018 09:19 pm by FutureSpaceTourist »

Offline Nordren

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Online Steven Pietrobon

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Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Online zubenelgenubi

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Phoenix TV, probably the biggest non-state TV station of China, might be carrying the launch live! Treat this as an unconfirmed info though, as I understand that CCTV isn't going to cover it.

I'll be up early at around 21:00 UTC for covering this launch (have to wake up early for work anyway).

Further to this, same source: Phoenix TV crew is on-site, but will only report on launch circa 2 hours after launch.
***

T-0 ?!
« Last Edit: 05/20/2018 09:29 pm by zubenelgenubi »
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Online Satori

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Online Svetoslav

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Yes, it just launched :) Saw it on the stream :P

Online Steven Pietrobon

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« Last Edit: 05/20/2018 09:32 pm by Steven Pietrobon »
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Captures from the stream:

Quote
Liftoff of Queqiao Chang'e-4 lunar relay satellite!

https://twitter.com/aj_fi/status/998314911112589313

Offline Chris Bergin

AUNCH! Clever as the person went from the TV screen to outside with one swift action!

Queqiao relay satellite launched ahead of Chang’e-4 lunar mission:
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/05/queqiao-relay-satellite-launched-change-4-lunar-mission/ … - by Rui C. Barbosa
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