Wenchang Satellite Launch Center

China Wenchang space launch site

synonym

Wenchang satellite launch center generally refers to China's Wenchang space launch site

Located in Longlou Town, Wenchang City, Hainan Province, China, Wenchang space launch site is the first open coastal space launch base in China and one of the few low latitude launch sites in the world. The launch center can launch Long March 5 Series rockets and Long March 7 launch vehicles. It is mainly responsible for launching geosynchronous orbit satellites, high mass polar orbit satellites, large tonnage space stations and deep space exploration satellites.

As a low latitude coastal launch base, Wenchang space launch site can not only meet the new needs of China's space development, but also greatly reduce the rocket fuel consumption (the carrying capacity of the same type of rocket can be increased by 10%) with the help of the large linear velocity close to the equator and the centrifugal phenomenon caused by inertia. It can also solve the transportation problems of giant rockets by sea and enhance the safety of debris falling It's all about sex. The launch center is fully open to the public. Now it has launch capability.

The construction of China Wenchang space launch site started in September 2009, which is composed of five major systems: test launch, measurement control, communication, meteorology and technical service support. It mainly undertakes the launch tasks of geosynchronous orbit satellite, high-quality polar orbit satellite, large tonnage space station, cargo spacecraft and deep space probe.

geographical position

Wenchang spacecraft launch site (wsls) is located in Longlou Town, Wenchang City, Hainan Province.

architectural composition

Wenchang space launch site is mainly composed of launch site area, supporting measurement and control station and other areas. The launch site area includes launch area, technology area, test cooperation area, technical service support system and so on. The total area of the project is about 18531 mu.

Historical evolution

Site predecessor

Wenchang space launch site, formerly known as China's test base for launching suborbital rockets, was approved by the State Council and the Central Military Commission to build China's first coastal launch base there.

Pre evaluation

In the 1970s, when China was building a space launch site, Hainan Island was once listed as one of the best sites. However, in view of the international environment of the cold war at that time, the coastal areas were easy to be attacked by foreign forces, and eventually had to be relocated to Xichang, which was not easy to be attacked.

The construction project of Hainan space launch base began to brew and conduct several rounds of scientific evaluation in the mid-1990s, and the first fourth satellite launch base finally came to Wenchang City.

Ground breaking

In September 2009, the construction of Wenchang space launch site, approved by the State Council and the Central Military Commission, broke ground in Wenchang City, Hainan Province on September 14, marking that China's newly built, open, environment-friendly and modern space launch site has entered the stage of full implementation.

substantial completion

In October 2014, Wenchang space launch site was basically completed.

Starting time

In January 2015, the Long March 7 carrier rocket has arrived at Wenchang space launch site, which is the first appearance of the Long March 7 carrier rocket and Wenchang launch system.

At 20:00 on June 25, 2016, the newly developed long March 7 carrier rocket developed by China's manned space project to launch a cargo spacecraft ignited and lifted off at Wenchang space launch site. About 603 seconds later, the load assembly and the rocket were successfully separated and entered an elliptical orbit of 200 km perigee and 394 km apogee. The Long March 7 carrier rocket was successfully launched for the first time.

major function

The center will be used to launch Long March 5 Series rockets, Long March 7 launch vehicles and other series of launch vehicles under pre research and development. It will mainly undertake the launch missions of geosynchronous orbit satellites, high mass polar orbit satellites, large tonnage space stations and deep space exploration satellites.

After Wenchang space launch site is completed and put into use, Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center will continue to undertake the launching tasks of recoverable satellite and manned space project, Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center will still mainly undertake the launching tasks of sun synchronous orbit satellite, Xichang Satellite Launch Center will mainly undertake the emergency launching tasks, and form a certain complementary relationship with Wenchang space launch site.

Launch process

When the launch was organized at Wenchang space launch site, the rocket carrier set out from Tianjin port, passed through the Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea, East China Sea, Taiwan Strait, South China Sea, Qiongzhou Strait and other sea areas, sailed about 1800 nautical miles in five to seven days, arrived at the West Wharf of Qinglan port in Hainan Province, and then transported to the rocket horizontal transfer preparation plant by road. The spacecraft was airlifted to Meilan Airport in Haikou and transported to the spacecraft assembly and testing plant by road. After the rocket is tested in the comprehensive test hall, it enters the vertical assembly test workshop for erecting, docking and comprehensive test. After the spacecraft completes the final assembly test, it is transported to the filling and fairing assembly plant in a vertical state for propellant filling and fairing assembly, and then transported to the rocket vertical assembly test plant in the form of spacecraft / fairing assembly for docking and installation with the rocket. After the joint general inspection of the rocket and spacecraft and the related transition preparation work, the rocket is transported to the launch station vertically and integrally, and the fuel is filled, and the rocket is ignited and launched.

Construction significance

Wenchang space launch site, when completed and put into use, can not only basically meet the requirements of all kinds of orbital satellite launch at home and abroad, but also provide a broad space for China's launch vehicles to participate in international commercial space launch, which is conducive to promoting the virtuous circle of China's space technology development. At the same time, Wenchang space launch site is of great strategic significance to optimize and improve the layout of China's space launch site, promote the sustainable development of space industry, and play a positive role in promoting the infrastructure construction of Hainan Province, promoting the development of local tourism, and prospering regional industries.

The construction of Wenchang space launch site is not the duplication and reproduction of the three existing space launch sites, such as Jiuquan, Taiyuan and Xichang, but the innovation and development at a high starting point. It quotes the most advanced design concepts and latest technologies in the world's space field, including information, intelligence, environmental protection demands and other innovative elements, which are integrated into the whole process of the design and construction of the launch site, so as to finally complete the construction It is a world-class modern new space launch site with strong comprehensive launch capability, high safety, reliability and informatization, ecological and environmental protection. After the space launch site is completed and put into use, Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center will undertake the launching tasks of recoverable satellite and manned space project, Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center will mainly undertake the launching tasks of sun synchronous orbit satellite, Xichang Satellite Launch Center will mainly undertake the emergency launching tasks, and the four launch centers will form a complementary relationship.

The construction of Wenchang satellite launch center will also play a positive role in Hainan's infrastructure construction and the improvement of scientific and technological level. It is worth mentioning that the launch site will bring new opportunities to Hainan International Tourism Island. Along with the settlement of the space launch center in Wenchang, there is also a world-class space theme park. After completion, it will become a popular science base for teenagers, a patriotism education base and a unique tourism center.

Main advantages

When choosing the launch site, the satellite launchers will try their best to choose the low latitude area, preferably near the equator, because this will enable the rocket to get the initial speed to the East given by the earth's rotation after launch, and improve its carrying capacity. After the completion of Hainan launch site, it will have a strong competitiveness in the international satellite launch market.

To put a kilogram of objects into space, hundreds of kilos of fuel will be consumed. Therefore, satellite experts are always racking their brains to reduce the weight of the satellite as much as possible while ensuring that the satellite is fully functional. But the volume of the launch vehicle cannot be expanded infinitely, and the weight of the satellite cannot be reduced infinitely. Under the existing technical conditions, the thrust of China's "Long March 2F" rocket can be upgraded from 10 tons, which is an effective way for China to save fuel when launching satellites. Hainan satellite launch site can "move" China's space launch site from the inland areas of high latitude in the north to the coastal areas of low latitude in the south, and the completion of Hainan satellite launch site can quickly fill the gap of low latitude The launch market is blank.

In China's future moon landing program, the long march series of launch vehicles can easily send manned spacecraft to the moon to establish a lunar base, or send manned spacecraft to space to establish China's permanent space station.

Wenchang, Hainan, a new generation space launch site in China, has three advantages

First, as China's first coastal launch center, it is close to the seaport and convenient for transportation. The rocket can be transported by sea, and the diameter of the rocket body is no longer limited by railway bridges and culverts (due to the limitation of railway transportation, the maximum diameter of the components of the Long March 2 series can only be limited to 3.5m), which further releases the potential of rocket design;

Second, low latitude and high launch efficiency. Xichang Satellite Launch Center is about 28 degrees north latitude, Wenchang is about 18 degrees north latitude. The carrying capacity of the same type rocket can be increased by 10%. The service life of the satellite can be extended for more than two years;

Third, wide range and good safety. From the east to the south, the range of 1000 km is sea area. The launch direction of the rocket from Hainan Island is the vast sea within 1000 km, so the falling debris is not easy to cause accidents, and the navigation area and landing area are safe.

Space theme park

Hainan space theme park is the core project of the supporting area of Hainan space launch site

Chinese PinYin : Wen Chang Wei Xing Fa She Zhong Xin