Wenchang Space Launch Site [WSLS] | Hainan Commercial Spaceport [HCS]

[GELORD]

 Wenchang Space Launch Site

[FutureSpaceTourist]

[KVP424]

Deluge system test at 2nd Wenchang commercial launch pad

[TheKutKu]

Minor damages are reported at the space center because of the Yagi typhoon. Reportedly some VAB panels being blown off.

Edit: https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5076088420569282
Official Statement:

"The Vice Mayor of Wenchang City, Hainan Province, Wei Bo, stated at a press conference held by the Typhoon "Yagi" Emergency Command that #TyphoonYagi poses a serious threat to the facilities and equipment of the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site. However, the risk is currently under control, and post-disaster emergency recovery work is proceeding in an orderly manner. [Web link]"

EDIT 2: Overview of the damage https://content-static.cctvnews.cctv.com/snow-book/index.html?item_id=8487426214750732519&toc_style_id=feeds_default&share_to=copy_url&track_id=82efe061-086b-4dc0-b2bb-60db2b0d8011

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1846618833693413486

The first launch from China's new Hainan commercial spaceport is expected soon, while preparations are underway to launch the next crew to the Tiangong space station and return the trio of Shenzhou-18 taikonauts to Earth.

Martin Smith overviews:

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/10/china-roundup-202410/

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Video:

https://twitter.com/cnspaceflight/status/1854207009043914922

The first launch from Wenchang commercial launch pad #1 is on track to happen by the end of the year while the current rehearsal campaign of Long March 8 will continue until November 09

[Satori]

We should use the designation "Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Site" (HICALS)?

[TheKutKu]

We should use the designation "Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Site" (HICALS)?

 Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site/Complex(HCSLS/HCSLC, 海南商业航天发射场) is the name of the launch site, HICAL is the name of the company managing it.

Exemple from various official communiques:
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/QYRNFqNlmPG3uJEDqNCqFg (HICAL's)
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/gnSr2eFYsw9DVeJKr5AgEQ (CASC, who was contracted to make a large part of the site)

[Satori]

We should use the designation "Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Site" (HICALS)?

 Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site/Complex(HCSLS/HCSLC, 海南商业航天发射场) is the name of the launch site, HICAL is the name of the company managing it.

Thanks for the clarification.

[TheKutKu]

http://www.news.cn/tech/20250125/b5d5c1e2d44e440ca0cd5902d5a9da20/c.html

HICAL announces the start of construction of two new commercial launch pads for liquid propellant launchers.
The launch pads will be designed for horizontally integrated launchers, i.e. CZ-12 launchers and non-CASC launchers; like the second commercial launch pad (HCSLC LCC-2).
The launch pads will be located on a 2103 chinese acres  (1,402,000m2) area of coastal Dongjiaozhen town, approximately ~2km west of the two existing launch pads.
A new technical area with command center, vehicle assembly building, test facilities and propellant supply systems will also be built.


https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/M_z2XF_99nkhUIabHF2d-g
http://www.hi.chinanews.com.cn/hnnew/2023-06-14/4_167408.html

These two launch pads are called LCC-3 and LCC-4; however, a LCC-3 for small solid launchers had already been announced and its construction had started in June 2023, but the completion of the work was never announced, even if different images showed that there had been major works. It may be possible that this launch pad was canceled...

[Alter Sachse]

overview

[limen4]

During the recent COPUOS Meeting in Vienna Russia presented his project of a Space Theater in Wenchang International Space City (Source)

[Alter Sachse]

"The latest image of the Hainan Commercial Spaceport, with her now operational launchpad no. 1 and no. 2."

[TheKutKu]

Following a call for bids, the Hainan Commercial Spaceport is starting to sign contracts to procure Maritime booster recovery infrastructures. It is expected to be completed by late 2026.

https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/25884532106
https://finance.eastmoney.com/a/202502253329207195.html

I. Overview of Bidding Results

On February 22, 2025, the bidding results for the "Reusable Rocket Maritime Recovery System" by Hainan Commercial Development have been fully announced. The project is divided into five sections, with a total investment of 805,912,478.2 RMB ($111M). Below are the bidding results for each section:

(1) Bidding Results for "Maritime Recovery Vessel"

The winning consortium consists of "Wuhu Shipyard Co., Ltd." and "The 708th Research Institute of China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited," with a total winning bid of 293 million RMB and a project duration of 671 calendar days.

(2) Bidding Results for "Command and Control Vessel"

The winning consortium includes "Jiangxi Jiangxin Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.," "China Ship Development and Design Center," and "Hainan Oute Marine Technology Co., Ltd.," with a total winning bid of 457.97 million RMB and a project duration of 671 calendar days.

(3) Bidding Results for "Telemetry Control System"

The winning consortium comprises "The 54th Research Institute of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation" and "Institute of Optics and Electronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences," with a total winning bid of 29.778 million RMB and a project duration of 480 calendar days.

(4) Bidding Results for "Shipboard Communication System"

The winner is the "Guangzhou Communication Research Institute" (The 7th Research Institute of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation), with a total winning bid of 17.4784782 million RMB and a project duration of 300 calendar days.

(5) Bidding Results for "Meteorological Measurement System"

The winner is "Nanjing Daqiao Machine Co., Ltd.," with a total winning bid of 7.686 million RMB and a project duration of 240 calendar days.

The largest contract, for the command ship, was signed on the 24th: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/OFUieWY0oah704-wVlb93A

Note that this is not the only chinese maritime rocket recovery infrastructure program, and is separate from i-Space's Hainan-based recovery vessel project, CALT's Wenchang-based recovery vessel for CZ-10A, as well as the Haiyang spaceport's barges fleet.

[edkyle99]

In addition to LC 1 and LC2, the Hainan Commercial Spaceport appears to have an additional flat pad in current Google maps images.  Note that there seems to be space for an additional flat pad just to the east.

The flat pad is here:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/qqA3WN2YUWwLz7C6A

Is this LC 3?

 - Ed Kyle

[limen4]

In addition to LC 1 and LC2, the Hainan Commercial Spaceport appears to have an additional flat pad in current Google maps images.  Note that there seems to be space for an additional flat pad just to the east.

The flat pad is here:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/qqA3WN2YUWwLz7C6A

Is this LC 3?

 - Ed Kyle

No, according to recently issued images of the groundbreaking ceremony LC3 and 4 are located about 1.5 km westwards.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

In addition to LC 1 and LC2, the Hainan Commercial Spaceport appears to have an additional flat pad in current Google maps images.  Note that there seems to be space for an additional flat pad just to the east.

The flat pad is here:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/qqA3WN2YUWwLz7C6A

Is this LC 3?

 - Ed Kyle

IIRC there was indeed mentioning of an LC-3 in official Chinese sources about 1-2 years ago explicitly mentioning it to be for solid rocket motor-based small LVs (another says there would be 2 such pads). Perhaps it would be renamed after the new decision to add 2 more liquid fuel based LV pads.

[TheKutKu]

CZ-10 launch pad from a recent flyover

https://x.com/kelvin61942434/status/1903585417473212759?t=qSMkutk2imTclghlmD33qQ&s=19

[TheKutKu]

HCSLC LCC-3 is being built by China Construction Fifth Engineering Bureau South China Company, a subsidiary of SOE China State Construction

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/dHhogHj1KhawRgwtZDBK3w
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/xY1lVxaao_yKPx1WRl5SOg

The mobile platforms for the new CZ-5 & CZ-7 VAB were completed at the end of May:
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/uRMFIuTfndg61UtT_xgVZQ