http://j.people.com.cn/n3/2025/0416/c95952-20302932.html

China has built a three-satellite constellation in cislunar space. According to the Space Applications Engineering and Technology Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, they will serve to conduct scientific research focusing on distant retrograde orbits (DROs) in cislunar space.

DROs are lunar orbits that run in the opposite direction to the direction of the Moon’s revolution. Typically, they are located about 70,000 to 100,000 km from the Moon. As a “transport hub” connecting the Earth, the Moon, and deep space, they are called the “natural harbor” of cislunar space. The exploration will provide support for the development and utilization of cislunar space and the forefront of space science.

Since the three satellites DRO-A, DRO-B, and DRO-L form an interconnected network, several cutting-edge scientific experiments and new technology tests can be carried out.