The Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC), also known as the Xichang Space Center, is a spaceport in China. It is located in Zeyuan Town (泽远镇), approximately 64 kilometers (40 mi) northwest of Xichang, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan.
Xichang Satellite Launch Center
The launch of Long March 3B Rocket, Xichang Satellite Launch Center, China.
The facility became operational in 1984 and is used to launch numerous civil, scientific, and military payloads annually.[1][2] It is notable as the site of Sino-European space cooperation, with the launch of the first of two Double Star scientific satellites in December 2003. Chinese officials have indicated interest in conducting additional international satellite launches from XSLC.[3]
In 1996, a fatal accident occurred when the rocket carrying the Intelsat 708 satellite failed on launch from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. Also, a 2007 test of an anti-satellite missile was launched from the center.
In order to support the Chinese Project 714 crewed space program in the 1960s, the construction of a new space center at Xichang in the Sichuan province was decided, located farther from the Soviet border, thus safer. This construction was part of the Third Front campaign to develop basic industry and national security industry in the rugged interior of China to prepare for potential United States or Soviet Union invasion.[4]
The Shuguang One spacecraft was expected to be launched from the launch pad number one. After the cancellation of the program, the launch pad was never completed. Today, a viewing platform for officials has been built at the site.[5]
First Long March-2E carrier rocketedit
China launched its first Long March-2E carrier rocket on 16 July 1990, sending into orbit Pakistan's first indigenously developed Badr-1 satellite and HS-601.
On 15 February 1996, a fatal accident occurred when the first new Long March 3B heavy carrier rocket carrying Intelsat 708 veered off course 22 seconds after launch, crashing 1200 meters away from the launch pad in a nearby mountain village, destroying 80 homes. According to the official report, six people died and 56 were injured.[6] The number of civilian deaths has been disputed, with estimates of the number of casualties as around a few hundred.[7][8]
A Chinese weather satellite — the FY-1C polar orbit satellite of the Fengyun series, at an altitude of 865 kilometers (537 mi), with a mass of 750 kg — was destroyed by a kinetic kill vehicle.
The SC-19 has been described as being based on a modified DF-21 ballistic missile or its commercial derivative, the KT-2 with a Kinetic Kill Vehicle and is fully mobile.
Beginning of China's lunar exploration programedit
On October 24, 2007, Chang'e 1, an un-crewed Moon orbiter of the Chang'e program, was successfully launched from the facility, marking the beginning of China's lunar exploration program.[9]
First Long March-3C carrier rocketedit
China launched its first Long March-3C carrier rocket on April 25, 2008. This was the 105th mission of China's Long March series of rockets, and also the launch of the nation's first data relay satellite (数据中继卫星) Tianlian I (天链一号).[10]
A new launch pad for next-generation rockets (such as Long March 8) is currently under construction, as of December 2019.[11]
Facilitiesedit
Xichang Satellite Launch Center launch complexesXichang Satellite Launch Center diagram
Launch Complexesedit
Three launch complexes were planned, and two were built:
Launch Complex 1 (LC-1), not built, was intended as the Shuguang launch site, later used as a viewing area.[12]
Map of the Xichang Satellite Launch Center and its neighborhood
XSLC's Technical Center is equipped for testing and integration of the payload and launch vehicle. Its Mission Command and Control Center is located 7 kilometers (4.3 mi) southwest of the launch pads, and provides flight and safety control during overall system rehearsal and launch. It is serviced by a dedicated railway and highway directly from Xichang Qingshan Airport and Manshuiwan railway station, which is about 50 kilometers (31 mi) away from the launch site. Two launch complexes at the facility support flight operations.[16]
^In addition to the launches carried out from LA-2 and LA-3, 5 more launches of small-lift launch vehicles (Long March 11 and Kuaizhou 1A) have been performed in a undesignated area.
Referencesedit
^Weitering, Hanneke (March 24, 2020). "China's Long March 2C rocket launches military surveillance satellites into orbit". Space.com. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
^Howell, Elizabeth (March 12, 2020). "China's new navigation system is nearly complete with penultimate Beidou satellite launch". Space.com. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
^. Xinhua News Agency. Archived from the original on October 2, 2008.
^"百人大厅静得能听见掉下一根针" (in Chinese). Shanghai Morning Post. October 22, 2007. Archived from the original on August 9, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2007.
^"96年火箭发射失控爆炸全过程" (in Chinese). 大旗网. September 15, 2007. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2008.
^Zak, Anatoly (February 2013). "Disaster at Xichang". Air & Space Magazine. Retrieved April 21, 2013. (Article on the crash of a rocket carrying a commercial payload on February 15, 1996)
^"The Space Review: Mist around the CZ-3B disaster (Part 1)".
^. Xinhua News Agency. October 24, 2007. Archived from the original on October 25, 2007. Retrieved October 24, 2007.
^"我国首颗中继卫星发射成功 将测控神七飞行" (in Chinese). 人民网. April 26, 2008. Retrieved April 27, 2008.
^Jones, Andrew (December 20, 2019). "China creates commercial space alliance, expands launch complex". SpaceNews. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
^. SinoDefence.com. Archived from the original on January 3, 2010. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
^. Xinhua News Agency. June 9, 2008. Archived from the original on June 13, 2008.
^"Long March 3B rocket launches Chinasat-9 satellite". Mister-Info.com.
^"西昌卫星发射中心重建发射塔为登月作准备" (in Chinese). 人民网. September 19, 2006. Retrieved June 11, 2008.
^Profile of Xichang Satellite Launch Center, GlobalSecurity.org.
xichang, satellite, launch, center, xslc, also, known, xichang, space, center, spaceport, china, located, zeyuan, town, 泽远镇, approximately, kilometers, northwest, xichang, liangshan, autonomous, prefecture, sichuan, launch, long, march, rocket, china, location. The Xichang Satellite Launch Center XSLC also known as the Xichang Space Center is a spaceport in China It is located in Zeyuan Town 泽远镇 approximately 64 kilometers 40 mi northwest of Xichang Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Xichang Satellite Launch CenterThe launch of Long March 3B Rocket Xichang Satellite Launch Center China LocationXichang Liangshan SichuanCoordinates28 14 45 66 N 102 1 35 60 E 28 2460167 N 102 0265556 E 28 2460167 102 0265556Short nameXSLCOperatorCASCTotal launches194 a Launch pad s TwoLaunch Complex 2 launch historyStatusActiveLaunches110First launch15 July 1990Long March 2E Badr A amp Aussat B MFSLast launch12 August 2023Long March 3B E Ludi Tance 4 01AAssociatedrocketsLong March 2ELong March 3ALong March 3BLong March 3C Launch Complex 3 launch historyStatusActiveLaunches79First launch29 January 1984Long March 3 DFH 2 01Last launch23 October 2023Long March 2D Yaogan 39 04AssociatedrocketsLong March 3Long March 2CLong March 3ALong March 3BLong March 3CLong March 4CLong March 2DXichang Satellite Launch CenterSimplified Chinese西昌卫星发射中心Traditional Chinese西昌衛星發射中心TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinXichang Weixing Fashe ZhōngxinMap all coordinates using OpenStreetMapDownload coordinates as KML GPX all coordinates GPX primary coordinates GPX secondary coordinates The facility became operational in 1984 and is used to launch numerous civil scientific and military payloads annually 1 2 It is notable as the site of Sino European space cooperation with the launch of the first of two Double Star scientific satellites in December 2003 Chinese officials have indicated interest in conducting additional international satellite launches from XSLC 3 In 1996 a fatal accident occurred when the rocket carrying the Intelsat 708 satellite failed on launch from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center Also a 2007 test of an anti satellite missile was launched from the center Contents 1 History 1 1 China s first crewed space program 1 2 First Long March 2E carrier rocket 1 3 1996 Launch accident 1 4 China s first successful ASAT test 1 5 Beginning of China s lunar exploration program 1 6 First Long March 3C carrier rocket 2 Facilities 2 1 Launch Complexes 2 2 Technical Center 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksHistory editChina s first crewed space program edit In order to support the Chinese Project 714 crewed space program in the 1960s the construction of a new space center at Xichang in the Sichuan province was decided located farther from the Soviet border thus safer This construction was part of the Third Front campaign to develop basic industry and national security industry in the rugged interior of China to prepare for potential United States or Soviet Union invasion 4 The Shuguang One spacecraft was expected to be launched from the launch pad number one After the cancellation of the program the launch pad was never completed Today a viewing platform for officials has been built at the site 5 First Long March 2E carrier rocket edit China launched its first Long March 2E carrier rocket on 16 July 1990 sending into orbit Pakistan s first indigenously developed Badr 1 satellite and HS 601 1996 Launch accident edit Main article Intelsat 708 On 15 February 1996 a fatal accident occurred when the first new Long March 3B heavy carrier rocket carrying Intelsat 708 veered off course 22 seconds after launch crashing 1200 meters away from the launch pad in a nearby mountain village destroying 80 homes According to the official report six people died and 56 were injured 6 The number of civilian deaths has been disputed with estimates of the number of casualties as around a few hundred 7 8 China s first successful ASAT test edit Main article 2007 Chinese anti satellite missile test On 11 January 2007 China conducted an anti satellite missile test with an SC 19 ASAT weapon A Chinese weather satellite the FY 1C polar orbit satellite of the Fengyun series at an altitude of 865 kilometers 537 mi with a mass of 750 kg was destroyed by a kinetic kill vehicle The SC 19 has been described as being based on a modified DF 21 ballistic missile or its commercial derivative the KT 2 with a Kinetic Kill Vehicle and is fully mobile Beginning of China s lunar exploration program edit On October 24 2007 Chang e 1 an un crewed Moon orbiter of the Chang e program was successfully launched from the facility marking the beginning of China s lunar exploration program 9 First Long March 3C carrier rocket edit China launched its first Long March 3C carrier rocket on April 25 2008 This was the 105th mission of China s Long March series of rockets and also the launch of the nation s first data relay satellite 数据中继卫星 Tianlian I 天链一号 10 A new launch pad for next generation rockets such as Long March 8 is currently under construction as of December 2019 11 Facilities edit nbsp Xichang Satellite Launch Center launch complexes nbsp Xichang Satellite Launch Center diagramLaunch Complexes edit Three launch complexes were planned and two were built Launch Complex 1 LC 1 not built was intended as the Shuguang launch site later used as a viewing area 12 Launch Complex 2 LC 2 or LA 2 located at 28 14 44 N 102 01 36 E 28 24550 N 102 02678 E 28 24550 102 02678 Launch Complex 2 LC 2 or LA 2 and used for launching Long March 2E Long March 3A Long March 3B 13 14 and Long March 3C rockets Launch Complex 3 LC 3 or LA 3 also known as LA 1 and located at 28 14 50 N 102 01 45 E 28 2471400 N 102 0291100 E 28 2471400 102 0291100 Launch Complex 3 LC 3 or LA 3 Used for launching Long March 2C Long March 3 Long March 3A and Long March 3B rockets Demolished and rebuilt between 2005 and 2006 Upgraded in order to support the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program 15 Demolished and rebuilt again between 2013 and 2015 failed verification Technical Center edit nbsp Map of the Xichang Satellite Launch Center and its neighborhoodXSLC s Technical Center is equipped for testing and integration of the payload and launch vehicle Its Mission Command and Control Center is located 7 kilometers 4 3 mi southwest of the launch pads and provides flight and safety control during overall system rehearsal and launch It is serviced by a dedicated railway and highway directly from Xichang Qingshan Airport and Manshuiwan railway station which is about 50 kilometers 31 mi away from the launch site Two launch complexes at the facility support flight operations 16 See also edit nbsp Spaceflight portalChinese space program Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center Wenchang Satellite Launch CenterNotes edit In addition to the launches carried out from LA 2 and LA 3 5 more launches of small lift launch vehicles Long March 11 and Kuaizhou 1A have been performed in a undesignated area References edit Weitering Hanneke March 24 2020 China s Long March 2C rocket launches military surveillance satellites into orbit Space com Retrieved March 30 2020 Howell Elizabeth March 12 2020 China s new navigation system is nearly complete with penultimate Beidou satellite launch Space com Retrieved March 30 2020 Dongfanghong IV ready for more int l satellite orders Xinhua News Agency Archived from the original on October 2 2008 Meyskens Covell F 2020 Mao s Third Front The Militarization of Cold War China Cambridge United Kingdom Cambridge University Press pp 4 218 doi 10 1017 9781108784788 ISBN 978 1 108 78478 8 OCLC 1145096137 S2CID 218936313 百人大厅静得能听见掉下一根针 in Chinese Shanghai Morning Post October 22 2007 Archived from the original on August 9 2011 Retrieved November 20 2007 96年火箭发射失控爆炸全过程 in Chinese 大旗网 September 15 2007 Archived from the original on July 15 2012 Retrieved June 13 2008 Zak Anatoly February 2013 Disaster at Xichang Air amp Space Magazine Retrieved April 21 2013 Article on the crash of a rocket carrying a commercial payload on February 15 1996 The Space Review Mist around the CZ 3B disaster Part 1 China s 1st moon orbiter enters Earth orbit Xinhua News Agency October 24 2007 Archived from the original on October 25 2007 Retrieved October 24 2007 我国首颗中继卫星发射成功 将测控神七飞行 in Chinese 人民网 April 26 2008 Retrieved April 27 2008 Jones Andrew December 20 2019 China creates commercial space alliance expands launch complex SpaceNews Retrieved December 20 2019 Xichang Satellite Launch Centre SinoDefence com Archived from the original on January 3 2010 Retrieved March 7 2010 China launches French built satellite Xinhua News Agency June 9 2008 Archived from the original on June 13 2008 Long March 3B rocket launches Chinasat 9 satellite Mister Info com 西昌卫星发射中心重建发射塔为登月作准备 in Chinese 人民网 September 19 2006 Retrieved June 11 2008 Profile of Xichang Satellite Launch Center GlobalSecurity org External links editAerial Maps from Google Maps28 14 45 66 N 102 1 35 60 E 28 2460167 N 102 0265556 E 28 2460167 102 0265556 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Xichang Satellite Launch Center amp oldid 1181750731, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
