China has achieved a groundbreaking milestone in space exploration with the successful deployment of the world's first three-satellite constellation in the Earth-Moon region. The initiative, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Earth-Moon Space DRO Exploration project, was announced during a Beijing symposium on April 15. The satellites have established an inter-satellite measurement and communication network, accelerating humanity's ability to explore and utilize this critical celestial corridor.
Launched a year ago, the mission faced early adversity when two satellites fell short of their intended distant retrograde orbit (DRO) due to a launch anomaly. Through innovative engineering, teams successfully redirected the solar sail-damaged satellites into stable DRO positions—securing China's strategic foothold in this new frontier. The third satellite operates in a 500-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit.
The DRO, located 310,000–450,000 km from Earth and 70,000–100,000 km from the Moon, offers unparalleled advantages: minimal fuel use through gravitational assists, multi-decade operational stability, and flexible orbital transfers. Lead researcher Wang Wenbin emphasized the mission's trailblazing use of satellite-to-satellite tracking—a system replacing traditional ground stations with low-orbit tracking satellites. This breakthrough promises to reshape deep-space exploration strategies.
The achievement positions China at the forefront of Earth-Moon infrastructure development, with applications ranging from lunar missions to interplanetary research. Analysts suggest this network could become foundational for future international collaborations in cislunar space.
