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As the Chang'e 6 mission draws to a successful conclusion, the vital support of its relay satellite, Queqiao 2, will continue for at least eight years. Queqiao 2 has been assigned new objectives that are integral to China's ongoing lunar exploration efforts. 

Zou Yongliao, Deputy Director General of National Space Science Center (NSSC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), also the Director of CAS General Office of Lunar and Deep Space Exploration, said: "We aim to launch the Chang'e 7 mission around 2026, with a lunar landing site designated at the south pole of the near side of the Moon. This mission will continue to rely on the Queqiao 2 relay satellite for communications relay services. In the fourth phase of lunar exploration, the Chang'e 8 mission is planned for 2028, with a similar lunar landing target at the Moon's south pole, again requiring the use of the Queqiao 2 relay satellite. As a result, Queqiao 2 is the key control element for the four missions that make up the fourth phase of lunar exploration, requiring its operational continuity for at least eight years.

Explaining the “Transparent Moon” scientific objective, Zou Yongliao simplified the concept: "Thanks to high-resolution cameras and spectrometers, our knowledge of the lunar surface is extensive, but our understanding of the Moon's interior is comparatively limited. We aim to use multi-physical field probes to improve our understanding of the lunar interior. This includes identifying the interior composition , their distribution and intrinsic properties. " 

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https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-06-25/VHJhbnNjcmlwdDc5NDQy/index.html

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