 The launch of Long March 3B Rocket, Xichang Satellite Launch Center, China. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Interactive map of Xichang Satellite Launch Center | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Xichang,Liangshan,Sichuan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Coordinates | 28°14′45.66″N102°1′35.60″E / 28.2460167°N 102.0265556°E /28.2460167; 102.0265556 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Short name | XSLC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator | CASC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total launches | 234[a] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch pad | 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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TheXichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC), also known as theXichang Space Center, is aspaceport inChina. It is located inZeyuan town (泽远镇),Mianning county, approximately 64 kilometers (40 mi) northwest ofXichang,Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture inSichuan.
It is operated by thePeople's Liberation Army Aerospace Force (formerly thePeople's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force) and is known as the27th Experimental Training base(MUCD: Unit 63790).[1][2]
The facility became operational in 1984 and is used to launch numerous civil, scientific, and military payloads annually.[3][4] It is notable as the site of Sino-European space cooperation, with the launch of the first of twoDouble Star scientific satellites in December 2003. Chinese officials have indicated interest in conducting additional international satellite launches from XSLC.[5]
In 1996, a fatal accident occurred when theLong March 3B rocket carrying theIntelsat 708 satellite failed on its maiden launch from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, killing at least 6 people in a nearby rural village. Uncontrolled debris from launches continues to fall in the vicinity, most recently in December 2023 and June 2024.[6][7]
A2007 test of ananti-satellite missile was launched from the center.
In order to support the Chinese Project 714 crewed space program in the 1960s, the construction of a new space center atXichang in theSichuan province was decided, located farther from theSoviet border, thus safer. This construction was part of theThird Front campaign to develop basic industry and national security industry in the rugged interior of China to prepare for potential United States or Soviet Union invasion.[8]
TheShuguang One spacecraft was expected to be launched from the launch pad number one. After the cancellation of the program, the launch pad was never completed. Today, a viewing platform for officials has been built at the site.[9]
China launched its firstLong March-2E carrier rocket on July 16, 1990, sending into orbitPakistan's first indigenously developedBadr-1 satellite andHS-601.
On February 15, 1996, a fatal accident occurred when the first newLong March 3B heavy carrier rocket carrying Intelsat 708 veered off course 2 seconds after launch, crashing 1200 meters away from the launch pad into a hillside, destroying 80 homes in a nearby mountain village. According to the official report, six people died and 57 were injured.[10] The number of civilian deaths has been disputed, with estimates of the number of casualties as around a few hundred.[11][12] The village that was damaged in this accident later got demolished.[11]
On January 11, 2007, China conducted ananti-satellite missile test with anSC-19 ASAT weapon.
A Chinese weather satellite — theFY-1C polar orbit satellite of the Fengyun series, at an altitude of 865 kilometers (537 mi), with a mass of 750 kg — was destroyed by a kinetic kill vehicle.
The SC-19 has been described as being based on a modifiedDF-21 ballistic missile or its commercial derivative, theKT-2 with aKinetic Kill Vehicle and is fully mobile.
On October 24, 2007,Chang'e 1, anun-crewed Moon orbiter of theChang'e program, was successfully launched from the facility, marking the beginning of China's lunar exploration program.[13]
China launched its firstLong March-3C carrier rocket on April 25, 2008. This was the 105th mission of China's Long March series of rockets, and also the launch of the nation's firstdata relay satellite (数据中继卫星)Tianlian I (天链一号).[14]
A new launch pad for next-generation rockets (such asLong March 8) is currently under construction, as of December 2019.[15]
Three launch complexes were planned, and two were built:
Launch Complex 1 (LC-1), not built, was intended as theShuguang launch site, later used as a viewing area.[16]
Launch Complex 2 (LC-2 or LA-2), located at28°14′44″N102°01′36″E / 28.24550°N 102.02678°E /28.24550; 102.02678 (Launch Complex 2 (LC-2 or LA-2)), and used for launchingLong March 2E,Long March 3A,Long March 3B[17][18] andLong March 3C rockets.
Launch Complex 3 (LC-3 or LA-3), also known asLA-1, and located at28°14′50″N102°01′45″E / 28.2471400°N 102.0291100°E /28.2471400; 102.0291100 (Launch Complex 3 (LC-3 or LA-3)). Used for launchingLong March 2C,Long March 3,Long March 3Aand Long March 3B rockets. Demolished and rebuilt between 2005 and 2006. Upgraded in order to support theChinese Lunar Exploration Program.[19] Demolished and rebuilt again between 2013 and 2015.[failed verification]
Mobile Launcher Pad, is used byCASIC'sKuaizhou-1A rocket to launch from Xichang.
XSLC's Technical Center is equipped for testing and integration of the payload and launch vehicle. Its Mission Command and Control Center is located 7 kilometers (4.3 mi) southwest of the launch pads, and provides flight and safety control during overall system rehearsal and launch. It is serviced by a dedicated railway and highway directly fromXichang Qingshan Airport andManshuiwan railway station, which is about 50 kilometers (31 mi) away from the launch site. Two launch complexes at the facility support flight operations.[20]
The Residential Area of XSLC was built to house workers of the launch center, and consists of:
The Residential area is located right next to the main gate of the launch center, and is connected to other facilities by a highway and railroad.[21][12]
On the 15th of February of 1996, The Long March 3B carryingIntelsat 708 crashed into a hillside in front of the Coordination Building and right next to the main gate of the launch center.[21]
Located right next to the main gate of the launch center was Mayelin Village (not to be confused with Mayelin), which has disappeared following the Intelsat 708 disaster.[11][21] Several villages and small towns, such as Mayelin, still exist near XSLC.
| Date | Vehicle | Launch Pad | Payload | Orbit | Outcome | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 January 1984 12:25 UTC | Long March 3 Y1 | LA-3 | STTW 1 | GTO | Partial Failure | |
| April 8, 1984 11:20 | Long March 3 | LA-3 | STTW 2 | GTO | Success | |
| February 1, 1986 12:37 | Long March 3 | LA-3 | DFH-2-1 | GTO | Success | |
| March 7, 1988 12:41 | Long March 3 | LA-3 | DFH-2A-1 (ChinaSat 1) | GTO | Success | |
| December 22, 1988 12:40 | Long March 3 | LA-3 | DFH-2A-2 (ChinaSat 2) | GTO | Success | |
| February 4, 1990 12:28 | Long March 3 | LA-3 | DFH-2A-3 (ChinaSat 3) | GTO | Success | |
| April 7, 1990 13:30 | Long March 3 | LA-3 | AsiaSat 1 | GTO | Success | |
| June 16, 1990 | Long March 2E/EPKM | LA-2 | Badr-1 Aussat B-MFS | GTO | Partial Failure | |
| December 28, 1991 12:00 | Long March 3 | LA-3 | DFH-2A-4 (ChinaSat 4) | GTO (intended) | Failure | |
| August 14, 1992 | Long March 2E | LA-2 | Optus B1 | GTO | Success | |
| December 21, 1992 | Long March 2E | LA-2 | Optus B2 | GTO | Failure | |
| February 08, 1994 | Long March 3A | LA-2 | Shijian 4 Kuafu-1 | GTO | Success | |
| July 21, 1994 10:55 | Long March 3 | LA-3 | APStar 1 | GTO | Success | |
| August 28, 1994 | Long March 2E | LA-2 | Optus B3 | GTO | Success | |
| November 29, 1994 | Long March 3A | LA-2 | ChinaSat 5 | GTO | Success | |
| June 26, 1995 | Long March 2E | LA-2 | APStar 2 | GTO | Failure | |
| November 28, 1995 | Long March 2E/EPKM | LA-2 | AsiaSat 1 | GTO | Partial Failure | |
| December 28, 1995 | Long March 2E/EPKM | LA-2 | EchoStar 1 | GTO | Success | |
| July 3, 1996 10:47 | Long March 3 | LA-3 | APStar 1A | GTO | Success | |
| August 18, 1996 10:27 | Long March 3 | LA-3 | ChinaSat 7 | GTO (intended) | Failure | |
| June 10, 1997 12:01 | Long March 3 | LA-3 | Fengyun 2A | GTO | Success | |
| June 25, 2000 11:50 | Long March 3 | LA-3 | Fengyun 2B | GTO | Success |
| Date | Vehicle | Serial number | Launch Pad | Payload | Outcome | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 April 2024 23:45 UTC | Long March 2D | 2D-Y103 | LC-3 | Yaogan 42-02 | Success |
| Date | Vehicle | Serial number | Launch Pad | Payload | Outcome | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 May 2024 | Long March 3B/E | 3B-Y | LC-2 | Shiyan 10-03 | Planned | |
| 2024 | Long March 3B/E | 3B-Y | Gaofen 15 | Planned | ||
| 2024 | Long March 3B/E | 3B-Y | Tiantong-1 04 | Planned | ||
| 2024 | Long March 3B/E | 3B-Y | BeiDou-3 G5 | Planned | ||
| 2024 | Long March 3B/E | 3B-Y | Tianhui-3 | Planned |
28°14′45.66″N102°1′35.60″E / 28.2460167°N 102.0265556°E /28.2460167; 102.0265556
