China deploys world’s first three-satellite constellation in Earth-moon space

China has completed the world’s first operational three-satellite constellation in the Earth-moon region, marking a new advance in deep-space exploration and autonomous space operations. This is reported by Xinhua News Agency, a partner of TV BRICS.

Developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the system is based on the Distant Retrograde Orbit (DRO), a highly stable orbit that circles both Earth and the Moon in a unique prograde-retrograde pattern.

The constellation comprises two newly launched satellites, DRO-A and DRO-B, which have established inter-satellite communication and measurement links with DRO-L.

Experts claim that a major innovation of the programme was the successful entry of a spacecraft into DRO using just one-fifth of the fuel typically needed, marking a breakthrough in energy-efficient deep-space navigation. This capability paves the way for the future deployment of large-scale constellations and spaceports in the Earth-moon region, the source claims.

Looking ahead, Chinese researchers plan to expand studies of the complex orbits in the Earth-moon system, explore lunar environmental dynamics, and conduct fundamental scientific experiments in fields such as quantum mechanics and atomic physics, capitalising on the long-term stability and strategic position of the DRO.

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