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| Location | Wenchang, Hainan, China | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Coordinates | 19°36′52.17″N 110°57′4.08″E / 19.6144917°N 110.9511333°E | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator | CASC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total launches | 32 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch pad(s) | Two | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Wenchang Space Launch Site | |||||||
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| Simplified Chinese | 文昌航天发射场 | ||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 文昌航天發射場 | ||||||
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The Wenchang Space Launch Site (Chinese: 文昌航天发射场[1][2]) is a rocket launch site located in Wenchang on the island of Hainan, in China.
Formally a suborbital test center, it currently serves as China's southernmost spaceport. The site was selected for its low latitude, 19° north of the equator, allowing for larger payloads to be launched. It is capable of launching the Long March 5, the heaviest Chinese rocket.[3] Unlike launch facilities on the mainland, Wenchang uses its seaport for deliveries.
The construction of the site was complete by October 2014.[4] The first launch took place on 25 June 2016.[5] Due to construction delays, the initial launch of the CZ-5 booster from Wenchang, originally expected to start in 2014[6] was postponed and took place on 3 November 2016.[7] The CZ-5B (maximum payload to LEO) variant was expected to be completed circa 2018[8] but the maiden flight took place on 5 May 2020. A CZ-5 carrier rocket was already shipped from North China's Tianjin port on 20 September 2015 for rehearsal drills of a scheduled Chang'e-5 lunar mission, which was planned for around 2019[9] and was successfully launched on 23 November 2020.
- ^ Li, Guoli; Wang, Ting (3 November 2016). ""中国文昌航天发射场"获命名，基本满足卫星发射各种要求" ["China Wenchang Space Launch Site" was named, basically meeting various requirements for satellite launch]. The Paper.cn (in Chinese).
- ^ "Moto Z | 海南文昌现场直击：长征五号发射！_专题_凤凰网". v.ifeng.com. Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
- ^ "Hainan showcases model of Wenchang Space Center (海南首次展出文昌航天发射场设计模型图)" (in Chinese). China Picture Network (中国新闻图片网). 29 April 2008. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ Smith, Marcia (20 October 2014). "China's new Wenchang space launch site ready for action". spacepolicyonline.com. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ Zhao, Lei. "Next-gen Long March rocket takes record-breaking flight". China Daily.com.cn.
- ^ "China's New Carrier Rocket To Debut In 2014". Space Daily. 4 March 2008.
- ^ "Long March 5". Integrated Space Analytics. 19 July 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ^ "Chang Zheng-5 (Long March-5) – SinoDefence". Sinodefence.com. Archived from the original on 3 July 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ^ "China to rehearse new carrier rocket for lunar mission - Xinhua | English.news.cn". News.xinhuanet.com. 20 September 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2016.