Xichang Satellite Launch Center

[russianhalo117]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[limen4]

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]

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]

Cross-post:

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]

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

[Alter Sachse]

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

[GELORD]

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]

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

[Fmedici]

About smallsat launchers in Xichang:

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

[FutureSpaceTourist]

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

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]

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]

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]

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.

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]

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