 The launch of Long March 3B Rocket, Xichang Satellite Launch Center, China. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Location | Xichang, Liangshan, Sichuan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Coordinates | 28°14′45.66″N 102°1′35.60″E / 28.2460167°N 102.0265556°E | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Short name | XSLC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator | CASC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total launches | 214[a] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch pad(s) | Three | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Xichang Satellite Launch Center | |||||||
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| Simplified Chinese | 西昌卫星发射中心 | ||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 西昌衛星發射中心 | ||||||
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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.
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, killing at least 6 people in a nearby village. Uncontrolled debris from launches continues to fall in the vicinity, most recently in December 2023 and June 2024.[4][5]
A 2007 test of an anti-satellite missile was launched from the center.
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).
- ^ Weitering, Hanneke (March 24, 2020). "China's Long March 2C rocket launches military surveillance satellites into orbit". Space.com. Archived from the original on April 3, 2020. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
- ^ Howell, Elizabeth (March 12, 2020). "China's new navigation system is nearly complete with penultimate Beidou satellite launch". Space.com. Archived from the original on April 13, 2020. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
- ^ "Dongfanghong IV ready for more int'l satellite orders". Xinhua News Agency. Archived from the original on October 2, 2008.
- ^ "China launches new Beidou satellites, rocket booster lands near house". December 26, 2023.
- ^ "Video: People run for cover as part of Chinese rocket explodes in residential area". WION. June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.