Longjiang 1 & 2 (DSLWP A1 & A2)

Launch data: Designation  DSLWP A1  DSLWP A2 NORAD-ID  43471  43472 Int. code  18045B  18045C Launch date  20 May 2018 - 21:28 UT Launch site  Xichang, LC-3 Launch vehicle  CZ-4C Mission  Radio Astronomy Earth orbit: Perigee / Apogee  184 x 400603 km  184 x 400603 km Eccentricity     Inclination  28.5 °  28.5 ° Period   min   min Decay

Artist′s impression of the Longjiang satellites. Credit: Harbin Institute of Technology

Spacecraft data:

This photo provided by Harbin Institute of Technology shows the camera installation of microsatellite Longjiang-2.

Earth image taken by microsatellite Longjiang-2 during a solar eclipse in the early hours of July 03. (PHOTO credit: Harbin Institute of Technology)

Description:

• LONGJIANG 1 and LONGJIANG 2 spacecrafts, also known by the acronym DSLWP, were programmed to loop into orbit around the moon as Queqiao flew by en route to its operating station beyond the moon. The twin LONGJIANG spacecraft are designed to fly in formation to validate technologies for low-frequency radio astronomy observations, similar to the objectives of the Dutch experiment aboard the Queqiao relay craft. The microsatellites also carry optical cameras from Saudi Arabia, another example of the Chinese space program′s expanding portfolio of international partnerships.

Mission details:

• Queqiao made a 100 km lunar flyby at 1340 UTC May 25, 2018 and made a braking burn close to perilune to put it on course to reach EML2.
  The CZ-4C third stage made a 9900 km lunar flyby at 1403 UTC May 25, and ended up in a 16910 x 444000 km x 14.5 deg Earth orbit.
• The CZ-4C also deployed two 45 kg DSLWP (Discovering the Sky at Longest Wavelengths Pathfinder) small astronomy satellites, Longjiang-1 and 2 (DSLWP-A and B). The two satellites also made lunar encounters on May 25, 2018. Longjiang-2 is confirmed to have successfully entered lunar orbit; initial orbit parameters were around 350 x 13800 km x 21 deg.
• Contact was lost with Longjiang-1 on May 21, 2018; if it failed to make the insertion burn it will probably end up in an orbit similar to the third stage.
• Longjiang 2 successfully entered lunar orbit. It operated until 31 July 2019, when it impacted the lunar surface on the far side.

External links:

• Satellite tracking: Real time satellite tracking