Recent photos of the construction site (credit: cruelworm@9ifly):
1. Long March 5 assembly building 12. Long March 5 assembly building 23. Transfer route4. Launch Complex 15. Launch Complex 2
Quote from: vulture4 on 06/28/2012 07:00 pm1. Long March 5 assembly building 12. Long March 5 assembly building 23. Transfer route4. Launch Complex 15. Launch Complex 2A somewhat belated thanks for the translations. It seems to me that the most significant parts are the numbers "1" and "2". Are those signs that some sort of campaign requiring multiple -- or at least two -- launches is contemplated, rather than a series of essentially independent launches?
Quote from: ChileVerde on 07/05/2012 06:15 pmQuote from: vulture4 on 06/28/2012 07:00 pm1. Long March 5 assembly building 12. Long March 5 assembly building 23. Transfer route4. Launch Complex 15. Launch Complex 2A somewhat belated thanks for the translations. It seems to me that the most significant parts are the numbers "1" and "2". Are those signs that some sort of campaign requiring multiple -- or at least two -- launches is contemplated, rather than a series of essentially independent launches?It's a backup, in fact ,for every mission, they made two spacecrafts, when one failed, they use another as soon as possible, but after launching, launch pad normally need maintenance, so shift to another one.
- Two launch pads, apparently one for the CZ-5 and one for the CZ-7. Both pads features a fixed service tower (the one on the bigger pad reaches a height of 91 meters!) with rotating service platforms and a deep flame trench (22 meters deep for the bigger pad)
I just checked out the DigitalGlobe browse images of the Wenchang center and found one taken by QuickBird 2 on 24 October 2012. At the browse resolution, not much change is seen at the launch site itself, but there seems to have been major road construction on the peninsula to the northeast. Perhaps associated with the intended tourist industry. Image attached, with another QB02 of 5 June 2011 for comparison.
I heard that port is planned for the area. No mention was made though as to what entity plans to use it one its built.
... from the Tianjin rocket factory.
Quote from: ChileVerde on 11/23/2012 08:40 pm... from the Tianjin rocket factory. I'm not sure if it fits this thread, but do we have google maps coordinates for the Tianjin factory?Thanks!
Vehicle Assembly Building in Wenchang