Author Topic: Xichang Satellite Launch Center (Read 99310 times)

Satori · « **on:** 05/14/2007 11:37 pm »

I have this photos of some launch pads at Xichang. Can someone identify them?

Satori · « **Reply #1 on:** 05/15/2007 12:35 am »

Looking at the book "China's Space Program" by Brian Harvey and taking into account this http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-12/30/content_5551214.htm from Xinhua, I say that Image Pad a and b are Launch Tower 3 (LC3). The other images are from LC2. So, what is LC1?

edkyle99 · « **Reply #2 on:** 05/17/2007 05:19 pm »

Quote

Satori - 14/5/2007 7:35 PM

Looking at the book "China's Space Program" by Brian Harvey and taking into account this http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-12/30/content_5551214.htm from Xinhua, I say that Image Pad a and b are Launch Tower 3 (LC3). The other images are from LC2. So, what is LC1?

My understanding is that the "new" LC3 is actually a rebuild of the original LC1. Pad 2 uses a service tower on rails. Pad 1 (and apparently 3) use a fixed service structure with fold-back platforms.

Google now has high quality sat images of the two pads, plus a view of a previously unknown flat pad located just northwest of the two Long March pads.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=28.2455+N,+102.027+E&ie=UTF8&z=17&ll=28.246129,102.026778&spn=0.004149,0.010729&t=k&om=1&iwloc=addr

I suspect that the flat pad was the recent launch site of the ASAT test, which implies use of a mobile launcher.

- Ed Kyle

Liss · « **Reply #3 on:** 05/28/2007 05:19 pm »

Quote

Satori - 15/5/2007 3:37 AM
I have this photos of some launch pads at Xichang. Can someone identify them?

I call East Pad or Pad 1 the pad in use since 1984 for CZ-3 and CZ-2C (which was rebuilt in 2005-2006 as Pad 3), and West Pad or Pad 2 the one in use for CZ-2E, CZ-3A and CZ-3B since 1990. In this system of designations:

a.jpg: Pad 1 in the foreground with Pad 2 to the left.
b.jpg: Pad 2 in the foreground with Pad 1 in the background.
c.jpg: Pad 1
d.jpg: the stationary part of Pad 2, without the mobile tower.
e.jpg: Pad 2
f.jpg: Pad 3 after rebuilding; Pad 2 is just over the left border of the image. Note the road and the tunnel entry at the background hills.

miom70 · « **Reply #4 on:** 06/29/2007 09:50 am »

this photo shows everything

spaceamillion · « **Reply #5 on:** 06/30/2007 02:09 pm »

Captions to the above:

1. Service Tower
2. Umbilical Tower
3. Launch Pad #2
4. Launch Control Center (LCC)
5. Aiming Room
6. Tracking Station
7. Cryogenic Propellant Fueling System
8. Storable Propellant Fueling System
9. Launch Pad #1

From: LM-3C USER’S MANUAL Chapter 7 (1998)

miom70 · « **Reply #6 on:** 07/01/2007 02:53 am »

9. Should be launch pad #3
There is no launch pad #1 in Xi Chang

edkyle99 · « **Reply #7 on:** 07/01/2007 03:09 am »

Quote

miom70 - 30/6/2007 9:53 PM

9. Should be launch pad #3
There is no launch pad #1 in Xi Chang

Right, but there was in 1998 when the Long March User's Manual was published. Pad #1 was refurbished and reopened as Pad #3 last year. It's use this year, along with Pad #2, has made XiChang the world's second busiest launch site, after Baikonur, this year to date.

- Ed Kyle

miom70 · « **Reply #8 on:** 07/01/2007 09:29 am »

Where is launch Pad #1 in XiChang? That's an interesting question. When XiChang started to build launch pad, China introduced a manned spaceship project. The original design of launch pad #1 was a manned spaceship launch pad, however, the project is failed,then China selected JiuQuan as their manned spaceship launch center. So, the area where launch pad #1 should be still empty now, it's 2km away from pad #2.

Satori · « **Reply #9 on:** 10/19/2007 06:17 pm »

Two nice images from the launch pads at Xichang (thanks mion70!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Satori · « **Reply #10 on:** 01/08/2012 01:04 pm »

A new thread dedicated the Xichang Satellite Launch Center where we can have informations, pictures, maps and the history of this Chinese space complex.

snowhole · « **Reply #11 on:** 01/09/2012 03:32 am »

Some photos taken inside XSLC by a tourist.

http://lt.cjdby.net/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=1280894

input~2 · « **Reply #12 on:** 03/02/2012 12:18 pm »

Some interesting pictures of XSLC setting, museum and local people
http://jhtndkq.blog.sohu.com/205067947.html

The signs in the top line in the picture below represent "XSLC" in the local language writing (Yi)
Xichang is writtenꀒꎂ(pronounced something like "Oh! Joe" in Yi)

Satori · « **Reply #13 on:** 03/02/2012 02:01 pm »

Quote from: input~2 on 03/02/2012 12:18 pm

Some interesting pictures of XSLC setting, museum and local people

Looks like an amazing place!

input~2 · « **Reply #14 on:** 03/02/2012 04:24 pm »

Quote from: Satori on 03/02/2012 02:01 pm

Quote from: input~2 on 03/02/2012 12:18 pm
Some interesting pictures of XSLC setting, museum and local people

Looks like an amazing place!

Worth a visit

since apparently it's open to foreign visitors

Stan Black · « **Reply #15 on:** 03/02/2012 07:51 pm »

So Chris, when are you starting NSF tours?

sammie · « **Reply #16 on:** 03/03/2012 09:39 am »

Quote

Worth a visit since apparently it's open to foreign visitors

Not easy though without the right professional contacts. I was in the region twice, and twice tried to organize a visit, but it's tricky. You first need clearance with the PSB, so your passport et al will be send to Beijing for a check, taking two weeks at best, and only then you'll get permission as a foreigner to get on a tour. There's supposed to be tourism operators in Xichang (the major city some 90km away) that organize the lot, still taking up to two weeks, but I could never find them in the city. Tried all the tricks in the book, but both times it was in vain. The city is littered with little statues to Long March rockets.

The launch centre itself is up a narrow valley, so hard to get access to by just riding around the neighborhood, lots of uniforms and roadblocks around. Stunning region of China though...

anik · « **Reply #17 on:** 03/27/2014 12:54 pm »

Photo of the launch pad #3 is made on January 1, 2014.

weedenbc · « **Reply #18 on:** 03/31/2014 01:22 pm »

Here's a really good Google Earth flythrough of Xichang from NTI:

http://www.nti.org/facilities/883/

anik · « **Reply #19 on:** 09/19/2015 06:23 pm »

We can see how the Chinese are modernizing launch pad 3. They are changing launch table and widening gas pan. Probably for new rocket?

russianhalo117 · « **Reply #20 on:** 09/19/2015 06:35 pm »

Quote from: anik on 09/19/2015 06:23 pm

We can see how the Chinese are modernizing launch pad 3. They are changing launch table and widening gas pan. Probably for new rocket?

CZ-5 is only one to require that width that width of trench. All next gen launchers will eventually see flight from all of the SLC's

Kryten · « **Reply #21 on:** 09/19/2015 06:37 pm »

Quote from: russianhalo117 on 09/19/2015 06:35 pm

Quote from: anik on 09/19/2015 06:23 pm
We can see how the Chinese are modernizing launch pad 3. They are changing launch table and widening gas pan. Probably for new rocket?
Probably for CZ-5 as it is only one to require that width. All next gen launchers will eventually see flight from all of the SLC's

How would CZ-5 be transported inland?

russianhalo117 · « **Reply #22 on:** 09/19/2015 06:41 pm »

Quote from: Kryten on 09/19/2015 06:37 pm

Quote from: russianhalo117 on 09/19/2015 06:35 pm
Quote from: anik on 09/19/2015 06:23 pm
We can see how the Chinese are modernizing launch pad 3. They are changing launch table and widening gas pan. Probably for new rocket?
Probably for CZ-5 as it is only one to require that width. All next gen launchers will eventually see flight from all of the SLC's
How would CZ-5 be transported inland?

by Air. I dont really know at this point.

anik · « **Reply #23 on:** 09/19/2015 06:45 pm »

It seems that on photo made by WorldView-3 on August 1, 2015 we can see that modernization of launch pad 3 has been finished.

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #24 on:** 09/19/2015 07:21 pm »

Quote from: anik on 09/19/2015 06:23 pm

We can see how the Chinese are modernizing launch pad 3. They are changing launch table and widening gas pan. Probably for new rocket?

Nope, it was for making pad 3 able to launch the Long March 3 series that has boosters (3B/C), doubling XSLC's launch frequency since LM-3A is about to be retired soon. That work has been on going since early 2014 and should be completed by now (lots of photos out there documenting the construction progress), and the next "secret launch" from Xichang (rumored to be late this month) will probably be its first use since early 2012.

SmallKing · « **Reply #25 on:** 10/07/2017 04:29 am »

Cool! VR tour around XSLC here
http://www.expoon.com/21632/panorama?form_p=tencent&oper_from=browser_news

limen4 · « **Reply #26 on:** 01/08/2020 08:03 pm »

This TV-report (http://tv.cctv.com/2020/01/08/VIDEHUaP7nP08xqUBZouIxKl200108.shtml) is saying that XSLC site will carry out in 2020 15 space launch missions for a total of nine months, with three months in the middle for the upgrading of equipment and facilities, including nine space launch missions in the first half.

The types of rockets launched include Long March II C, Long March II D, Long March III B, and Long March 11 launch vehicles. Among them, the Long March II D and Long March 11 launch vehicles will be launched for the first time at the Xichang Space Launch Site.

The same report shows some comsats which are maybe due this year.

Edit: Pic.5 shows Shijian-20, already launched in 2019.

eeergo · « **Reply #27 on:** 03/30/2020 07:15 pm »

Large forest fires in Xichang

https://twitter.com/stoa1984/status/1244646507267141633

EDIT 31/3: And unfortunately getting worse:

https://twitter.com/AJ_FI/status/1244913001834131457

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #28 on:** 08/10/2020 08:53 pm »

Cross-post:

Quote from: Olaf on 08/10/2020 09:16 am

China's Xichang Cosmodrome closed for repairs

https://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/news/75269/
Google translation
One of the four Chinese cosmodromes, Xichang, has been closed for repairs, it is planned to modernize equipment and reconstruct launch complexes. The resumption of launch operations is planned for the end of September-beginning of October this year, according to the "China Space Flights" VKontakte group.

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #29 on:** 10/12/2020 03:19 am »

Xichang is launching again--Gaofen-13 on October 11, 2020 UTC.

Alter Sachse · « **Reply #30 on:** 05/17/2021 06:50 am »

https://chinaspacereport.wordpress.com/facilities/xichang/

GELORD · « **Reply #31 on:** 02/24/2022 12:15 am »

Beautiful winter views of China's Xichang Satellite Launch Center, XSLC. It is located in Sichuan province at the foot of the Dalyangshan Range, has coordinates 28°14′45.66″N 102°1′35.60″E. Launches of spacecraft for various purposes have been carried out since January 29, 1984. The next launch of the launch vehicle is scheduled for March 4-6 this year.

风里雨里雪里阳光里，我在西昌卫星发射基地景区等你
悄悄告诉你，时隔两个月
3月4号—3月6号期间
西昌卫星发射基地择机有发射任务
三号发射工位，难得的白天场
现场观摩火箭发射目前还有余位哦
0834-8888588
0834-3234100

Fmedici · « **Reply #32 on:** 07/29/2022 02:42 pm »

Does anyone have the breakdown of the 173 launches from Xichang (including today's) between LA-2 and LA-3?

Fmedici · « **Reply #33 on:** 08/23/2022 09:32 pm »

About smallsat launchers in Xichang:

https://twitter.com/Cosmic_Penguin/status/1561992785296650240

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #34 on:** 05/20/2023 06:41 am »

https://twitter.com/cnsawatcher/status/1659798618046443522

Quote

CNSA Xichang launch center’s major achievement in 2022: 0 injury or casualty from rocket debris falling. Xichang launch center was built inland among the mountains to avoid Soviet Russia’s military threats & nuclear intimidation in the last century. Source:buff.ly/3IuDnzL

I’m not sure how much this was something achieved as opposed to luck?

Satori · « **Reply #35 on:** 02/08/2024 06:15 pm »

Backgrounder: China's Xichang space launch site reaches milestone 200th mission.

China's Xichang space launch site, the inland launch site of the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, located in the southwestern Sichuan Province, on Saturday achieved a milestone with its 200th launch mission.

GELORD · « **Reply #36 on:** 04/09/2024 06:48 am »

In honor of the 40th anniversary of the successful launch of the experimental communications satellite Dongfanghong-2 into geostationary orbit. On April 8, 1984, China successfully launched the experimental communications satellite Dongfanghong-2 using the Long March 3 launch vehicle, becoming the fifth country in the world to master satellite communications capabilities.

【纪念东方红二号试验通信卫星成功发射40周年】1984年4月8日，我国用长征三号运载火箭成功发射东方红二号试验通信卫星，同月16日，卫星成功定点于东经125度赤道上空，在随后的各项试验中卫星工作正常，标志着我国卫星通信工程取得圆满成功，掌握了极为复杂的地球同步轨道通信卫星和低温高轨运载火箭相关技术，在地球同步静止轨道站稳了脚跟，建成了相应的研制、试验、发射、测控、应用体系，进一步推动了航天科技在国计民生多领域的应用，进一步奠定了我国在航天领域的国际地位，振奋了民族精神。

TheKutKu · « **Reply #37 on:** 10/11/2024 11:17 am »

It has been rumored for quite some time that expansions of XSLC for new generation launchers were planned, and it seems it is finally taking shape as a commercial launch pad.
Reposting elements of some analysis that were posted on WeChat and Baidu Tieba:

https://www.sc.gov.cn/10462/14721/2024/10/11/dff95422955f484db33e74b45b2ff4b7.shtml
https://www.163.com/dy/article/JE3ME75Q0553TKKM.html

Sichuan Development International Commercial Spaceport Co., Ltd. was unveiled in Xichang
The company plans to build a commercial space launch platform in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture (the region where XSLC is).

SDICS Company was registered on September 3. The company's capital is 1 billion Yuan ($140M), its representative is Zhang Dehai.
On October 9, the news of the unveiling ceremony of Sichuan Fashang Company revealed that the company will rely on the unique resource endowment and launch conditions of Liangshan Prefecture to build a commercial space launch platform in the only region in China's strategic hinterland with low-latitude launch conditions.

In terms of capital structure, unlike Hainan Commercial Aerospace Launch (HICAL), Sichuan Commercial Aerospace's shareholders are all state-owned assets and provincial and municipal enterprises.
As of October 11, Sichuan Commercial Aerospace's shareholders include Sichuan Development (Holdings) Co., Ltd., Liangshan Prefecture Development (Holdings) Group Co., Ltd., Xichang State-owned Assets Management Co., Ltd., etc.
Otherwise the scope of the company is similar to HICAL.

Quote

From October 9 to 10, following the work arrangements of the collaborative promotion mechanism for the aerospace industry chain, Dong Weimin, a member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Executive Vice Governor, conducted an in-depth investigation into the construction of the Western Commercial Spaceport in Liangshan Prefecture and presided over a symposium [...] He stressed the need to pay great attention to the construction of the Western Commercial Spaceport and to deeply understand that developing commercial aerospace is an urgent requirement for building a strong space-faring nation and for Sichuan to leverage and expand its competitive advantages. Extraordinary measures must be taken to accelerate the construction of the Western Commercial Spaceport. This includes fully advancing the approval of the launch site park project, conducting high-level specialized planning and design, and further clarifying the construction models for the launch site area, service area, and cultural tourism expansion area.

Shlug · « **Reply #38 on:** 06/29/2025 12:25 pm »

I've got some pictures of XSLC aswell. Of the residential area however, not the launchpads.