Beijing, China (AGENCIES): China has successfully established the world’s first three-satellite constellation on the distant retrograde orbit (DRO) within the Earth-moon region of space, marking a significant milestone in space exploration. The satellites, connected via stable inter-satellite communication and measurement links, were developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), according to China Central Television (CCTV).
The Earth-moon region extends up to 2 million kilometers from Earth, significantly expanding the domain for space exploration and utilization. This breakthrough opens new opportunities for lunar resource exploitation, long-term human habitation, and sustainable solar system exploration.
China’s research into this region began in 2017, culminating in the launch of the DRO-A and DRO-B satellites in March 2024 and the DRO-L satellite in February 2024. Together, they formed the constellation in August 2024. CAS highlighted the innovative design behind the project, including low-energy DRO insertion, which significantly reduced fuel requirements.
Other achievements include advancements in orbit determination accuracy using inter-satellite tracking systems and the successful validation of K-band inter-satellite microwave communication links over a distance of 1.17 million kilometers. The mission also facilitated astrophysical research, such as gamma-ray burst detection and atomic clock operations.
Chinese researchers hailed this constellation as a pathway to future deep-space exploration and large-scale cislunar commercial activity. The project underscores China’s leadership in space science and its commitment to frontier exploration in the Earth-moon region.