News
China’s Communication Satellite is Orbiting the Moon
China’s Relay Satellite, Queqiao-2, has successfully entered lunar orbit, marking a significant milestone in the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program. Launched on March 20th atop a Long March-8 Y3 carrier rocket, Queqiao-2 completed a perilune braking maneuver on March 24th, positioning itself 440 km from the lunar surface. This satellite will serve as a crucial communications relay for missions on the far side of the Moon, including Chang’e-4, Chang’e-6, Chang’e-7, and Chang’e-8.
The perilune braking maneuver is essential for establishing a lunar orbit, allowing the spacecraft to be captured by the Moon’s gravity. Along with Queqiao-2, two experimental satellites, Tiandu-1 and -2, also performed this maneuver successfully and entered lunar orbit. These satellites will conduct communication and navigation tests, including laser ranging with the Moon and microwave ranging between satellites.
Queqiao-2 will be positioned in a 24-hour elliptical orbit around the Moon, with its closest point at 200 km and its farthest point at 100,000 km. This orbit will provide direct communication with ground stations on Earth and the far side of the Moon. The satellite is equipped with advanced scientific instruments, including extreme ultraviolet cameras and lunar orbit Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) test subsystems.
According to CCTV, the CNSA selected Queqiao-2’s orbit for its strategic location in the Moon’s maria region, known as the Sea of Abundance. This area holds historical significance for China’s lunar exploration project, making it an ideal choice for the satellite’s operations. Queqiao-2 will support upcoming missions like Chang’e-6, as well as pave the way for future lunar exploration and resource scouting.
China’s Lunar Exploration Program aims to rival NASA’s Artemis Program, which is set to send astronauts on a circumlunar flight next year. NASA’s program includes plans for a sustained program of lunar exploration and development, with the deployment of the Lunar Gateway and Artemis Base Camp. In collaboration with international partners, these initiatives will pave the way for human exploration and research on the Moon.
As China’s Relay Satellite settles into lunar orbit, it heralds a new era of lunar exploration and cooperation among nations. With its advanced capabilities and strategic positioning, Queqiao-2 is poised to play a crucial role in China’s ambitious plans for the Moon, setting the stage for further discoveries and advancements in space exploration.
News
Is now the right time to invest in gold as prices have cooled?
The price of gold has climbed to record highs recently and has remained strong through much of April. And, that growth continued until the precious metal traded at around $2,390 per ounce on April 19, 2024. But since, growth in the price of the precious metal has cooled, with gold’s price now hovering around $2,300 per ounce.
This lull in gold’s price may represent an investment opportunity.
In general, investing is centered around buying assets when prices are low and selling them when prices are high – generating a profit on the difference between the two. So, considering the declines in gold’s price over the past few days, now may be the time to make your investment. But is buying gold during this lull in prices really a good idea?
Compare your gold investment options among leading brokers now.
Gold prices have cooled. Should you buy in now?
With gold’s price down from recent highs, you may be wondering if now is the right time to buy in. There are several reasons the dip in gold’s price may represent an opportunity to buy. Here are some of the biggest:
Prices may rise again
If looking at a gold price chart shows anything for certain, it shows that changes in the overall growth of the medal come in fits and spurts. Periods of price growth are typically followed by periods of declines and vice versa.
But with inflation rising in recent months – and with gold’s reputation as a safe-haven asset that can hedge against inflation – it only makes sense that the price of the precious metal will eventually start to head up again in the future. While attempting to time that directional change may be tricky, buying the precious metal while the price is down gives you the opportunity to take advantage of any upward movement that may be ahead.
Add gold to your portfolio now before prices have a chance to rise.
You may be able to make a quick profit
Gold isn’t known as an asset in which you can earn a quick return, but in today’s market, that may be the case. Don’t forget that in January, gold was trading at just $2,000 per ounce. And, by mid-April, the commodity’s price had climbed to around $2,400 per ounce. That’s about 20% growth in a matter of months, much of which happened since March 1 – an impressive climb for any investment asset.
Perhaps more importantly, gold’s price growth through the beginning of 2024 shows that the commodity doesn’t have to be a buy and hold style investment that you keep in a safety deposit box or precious metal depository for years to come. There’s also the possibility that the commodity’s price could climb further ahead, making it a compelling way to potentially generate a quick profit.
There are other benefits of investing in gold
There are other benefits of investing in gold that have little to do with the price growth seen thus far in 2024 – or the lull in prices seen over the past couple of days. Those benefits include:
- Inflation protection: Gold has long been considered an inflation hedge, and for good reason. When inflation drives the prices of consumer goods and services up – and the value of the dollar down – gold’s price tends to rise. So, it could be used to maintain the value of your portfolio during inflationary economic conditions. That’s important in today’s economic environment as stubborn inflation continues to weigh on the value of the dollar.
- Portfolio diversification: Gold’s price doesn’t always move in the same pattern that bonds or stocks do. So, mixing a reasonable amount of gold into your portfolio (up to 10% of your portfolio assets) as a diversifier could protect you from losses should one or more of your traditional portfolio assets fall in value. “If you have less than 5% – 10% of your net worth in commodities & FX (forex), you should absolutely consider adding exposure to gold and other precious metals,” says Vijay Marolia, money manager and managing partner at the wealth management firm, Regal Point Capital.
The bottom line
Gold’s price has fallen from recent highs – which may represent an opportunity to tap into growth ahead. However, gold isn’t simply a “buy while it’s low and sell while it’s a high” kind of investment opportunity. The commodity can also protect your portfolio from the stubborn inflation we’ve seen thus far in 2024 while acting as a diversification tool that could increase your risk-adjusted portfolio returns. So, consider adding gold to your portfolio today while it has the potential to grow in value.
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