An artist's illustration of China's Queqiao relay satellite, which will relay data between controllers on Earth and China's Chang'e 4 lander-rover pair on the moon's far side. [Photo/China National Space Administration] XICHANG, Sichuan Province -- The relay satellite, launched Monday for China's Chang'e-4 lunar probe, is carrying the largest communication antenna ever used in deep space exploration, according to Chinese experts. The launch of the satellite Queqiao, or Magpie Bridge, is a key step for China to realize its goal of sending the Chang'e-4 lunar probe to soft-land on the far side of the Moon. Queqiao, developed by China Spacesat Co Ltd under the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), will be the world's first communication satellite operating in an orbit around the L2 point of the Earth-Moon system to establish a communication link between controllers on Earth and the probe. Chinese experts designed several antennas for the relay satellite, including one shaped like an umbrella with a diameter of 5 meters, which opened in space after the satellite separated from the carrier rocket. It must endure temperatures as cold as 230 degrees centigrade below zero. Chinese experts conducted countless experiments during the development of the antenna, said Chen Lan, deputy chief engineer of the Xi'an Branch of CAST. The satellite is of great scientific and engineering importance in the exploration of the universe, said Zhang Lihua, manager of the relay satellite project. A reliable long-distance data transmission link is a key technological goal for space experts around the world. A relay satellite is a type of communication satellite that provides data transmission, observation and control services for other spacecraft. China has already sent a series of relay satellites into geosynchronous orbit at an altitude of 36,000 km for manned spacecraft. Queqiao is similar to those relay satellites, but its orbit is more than 10 times farther, which is the main technological difficulty. custom wristbandspaw print silicone braceletsmake custom bracelets onlinepersonalized sports braceletscustom silicone wristbands
Omar Ali Saifuddien in Brunei. [Photo/IC] Picturesque landscapes, a magnificent mosque and pristine forest are drawing an increasing number of Chinese travelers to Brunei. Last year, 520,00 Chinese tourists visited the country, up by 26.8 percent year-on-year, according to Brunei's Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism. Chinese tourists accounted for 20.2 percent of all tourists to Brunei last year, the ministry said, 1.5 percentage points higher than in 2016. Chinese have become the largest international tourist group in the country, according to Ctrip, China's largest online travel agency. This year, Ctrip's sales of trips to Brunei are expected to grow 80 percent year-on-year, said Jiang Ying, director of the travel agency's Southeast Asia region. Most Chinese visitors to Brunei have been relatively experienced travelers and outdoor enthusiasts so far, and general sightseeing tourists are the minority, Jiang said. With Chinese travelers visiting more Southeast Asian countries, an increasing number are paying attention to this mystic country, she said. Trips of five to six days are currently the most popular with Chinese, who receive visas on arrival with proof of a round-trip ticket and hotel arrangements. Brunei has launched tourism road shows to attract Chinese tourists over the years, and has displayed local tradition, culture and scenery at the China-ASEAN Expo on multiple occasions since 2004. Beijing resident Wang Qing visited Brunei earlier this month. It's such a peaceful country, with a seemingly slow-paced lifestyle, and everything is quite in order, Wang said. She visited the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque and felt the hospitality of the locals. Venie Ho, a local guide, has seen an increasing number of Chinese tourists in recent years. Most of my customers are into leisure and ecological experiences, Ho said. She has noticed Chinese elements increasing in Brunei's tourism sector during her eight years as a tour guide. Most hotels now have at least one Chinese-speaking staff member, and new hotels offer electrical outlets in line with the Chinese mainland, she said. Ho expects the number of Chinese visitors to grow as more flights become available. A flight connecting Brunei and Hainan has just been launched, and more connecting Beijing are expected once the capital's new airport is completed, she said.
