This bizarre photo of the Moon was taken by a pair of Chinese test satellites

China's experimental lunar satellites Tiandu-1 and 2 are testing lunar navigation and communications technology. They recently shared a bizarre image of the Moon's surface with Earth in the background.

A pair of small experimental satellites have begun tests related to future lunar navigation and communication services for China's lunar ambitions.

Strange image of the Moon. (Photo: CNSA/DSEL).

The Tiandu-1 and Tiandu-2 satellites were launched to the Moon along with the Queqiao-2 lunar communications relay satellite on the Long March 8 rocket on March 19. The spacecraft will later support a major mission – Chang'e 6, which could launch as soon as next month.

China's Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL) said on April 13 that the Tiandu-1 and Tiandu-2 satellites have performed tests of highly reliable transmission and routing capabilities. between the Earth and the Moon's surface.

One of the two satellites also transmitted an infrared image showing the far side of the Moon with many craters, including an image of the distant planet Earth.

The pair of Tiandu satellites entered lunar orbit on April 3 and are flying about 200km apart. Tiandu-1 weighs 61 kg and is equipped with a Ka-band dual-frequency communicator, laser reflector and space router. Tiandu-2 weighs 15 kg and carries communications and navigation equipment.

DSEL announced that the test satellites will conduct further experiments on navigation and communication technology on the Moon. The results will guide the design and construction of the planned International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) and the Queqiao satellite constellation for communications, navigation and remote sensing on the Moon.