CHINA / SOCIETY
Wenchang Space Launch Site in S. China’s Hainan plans to build a new generation of manned lunar rocket launch site
Published: Sep 01, 2023 02:56 PM Updated: Sep 01, 2023 02:51 PM
The aerial view of the Wenchang International Aerospace City Photo: Courtesy of the Wenchang International Aerospace City

The aerial view of the Wenchang International Aerospace City Photo: Courtesy of the Wenchang International Aerospace City


The Wenchang Space Launch Site in South China's Hainan Province is the mother port for China's space station construction and one of the most advanced space launch centers in the world. The Wenchang Space Launch Site is planning to build a new generation of manned lunar rocket launch site, from where manned lunar missions will set sail, media reported Friday.

Managed by Xichang Satellite Launch Center, Wenchang Space Launch Site has achieved technological breakthroughs such as high-flow filling of cryogenic propellants and parallel testing and launch of large and medium-sized cryogenic liquid rockets since its establishment. These advancements have significantly enhanced China's capabilities in space exploration. With its unique advantages, Wenchang Space Launch Site has taken on the important role of constructing China's space station, China Central Television reported.

Among China's four major space launch centers, Wenchang site has three major advantages that make it the mother port for China's space station construction, according to researchers. First, it has low latitude. The lower the latitude of the rocket launch site, the less energy is required for launching spacecraft, resulting in greater carrying capacity, the report said.

Second, it has high safety. Within a range of 1,000 kilometers from the launch site, there is only vast ocean, and the launch range covers 90 to 185 degrees, meeting the launch requirements of different orbital spacecraft.

Third, it has convenient transportation. Rockets can be transported by sea, and their size is not limited by the diameter of railway transportation, making it adaptable to the needs of various large rockets for reaching the launch site.

It's because of these unique advantages that the Wenchang Space Launch Site has become the only place in China capable of carrying out heavy rocket launch missions, the report said.

Engineer Liao Guorui from the site said the center will also develop new manned lunar rocket launch sites and construct heavy rocket launch sites, providing strong support for China's manned lunar missions, deep space exploration, planetary exploration, and more. "We will spare no effort to build a world-class space launch center and enable the Chinese people to explore space with greater stability and distance," Liao was quoted as saying.