Tags: China, Satellite Launch, Launch center
Publication: News.Xinhuanet.com
Publication Date: 03/03/2013

Jiuquan Satellite Lauch Center assembly tower. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

China has announced its fourth launch center will be ready for use in two years. The Wenchang center, located in the lowest latitude one in China at the north east coast of the tropical island province of Hainan, has been under construction since 2009.

According to the Xinhua news agency, the Wenchang launch center will be used for Long March-7 and Long March-5 rockets to launch space station capsules and cargo ships, and for synchronous satellites, heavy satellites, large space stations, and deep space probe satellites. It is designed to handle up to 10-12 rocket launches a year.

China currently has three other space launch bases, however, they are landlocked in western or northern plateau and mountainous regions, lack commercial development and are inconvenient for transportation. The new Wenchang launch center is expected to solve these problems and help rockets consume less fuel to get into orbit because of its better location.

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