Chinese Rover on the Moon Will Connect Artemis II Crew to Earth

Why It Matters

Relying on China’s far‑side relay satellite streamlines Artemis communications, making a crewed lunar return more feasible and highlighting new international interdependence in space exploration.

Key Takeaways

• Artemis II will orbit Moon’s far side using precise trajectory.
• Chinese relay satellite enables continuous communication on lunar far side.
• Midcourse maneuvers fine‑tune speed for safe Earth re‑entry.
• Artemis IV, not III, slated for crewed lunar landing in 2028.
• Successful service‑unit burn mirrors Apollo 8’s figure‑eight path.

Summary

The video discusses NASA’s Artemis II mission, which will send astronauts around the Moon’s far side on a figure‑eight trajectory reminiscent of Apollo 8, and highlights the role of a Chinese relay satellite in maintaining contact.

Mission controllers performed a service‑unit burn to place the spacecraft on the correct velocity and angle, emphasizing the need for precise initial conditions and occasional mid‑course adjustments to ensure a safe Earth re‑entry at roughly 11 km/s. The far‑side blackout is mitigated by China’s Chang’e‑4 rover and its Queqiao relay satellite, which can relay signals between Earth and any future crew on that hemisphere.

As host Fred noted, “the only spacecraft that’s ever landed softly there can connect with Earth via a relay satellite,” and another guest added optimism, saying “we’re pretty near 100%” that humans will return. The discussion also clarified that the crewed landing will shift from Artemis III to Artemis IV, now targeted for 2028.

Leveraging the Chinese relay infrastructure could reduce NASA’s need for its own far‑side assets, accelerating the timeline for a sustainable lunar presence, while the schedule shift underscores the program’s evolving roadmap and the broader geopolitical collaboration in space.

Original Description

Astronomer Fred Watson says the crew on the Artemis II do have communication when they are on the backside of the moon.

“There is a Chinese rover on the far side of the moon which can connect with Earth via a relay satellite,” Mr Watson told Sky News host Steve Price.

“That’s how they connect.”