Xichang Satellite Launch Center

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The Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC) (Chinese: 西昌卫星发射中心; pinyin: Xīchāng Weìxīng Fāshè Zhōngxīn) also known as Base 27（27基地）^{[citation needed]}, is a People’s Republic of China space vehicle launch facility (spaceport) approximately 64 km northwest of Xichang City in Sichuan Province.

The facility became operational in 1984 and is primarily used to launch powerful thrust rockets and geostationary communications and weather satellites. It is notable as the site of Sino-European space cooperation, with the launch of the first of two Double Star scientific satellites in December 2003. Chinese officials have indicated interest in conducting additional international satellite launches from XSLC.^[1]

In 1996, a fatal accident occurred when the rocket carrying the Intelsat 708 satellite failed on launch from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. It is also believed that a 2007 test of an anti-satellite missile occurred from the center.

[edit] History

The launch of Tianlian, Xichang Center

[edit] China's first manned space program

In order to support the Chinese Project 714 manned space program in the 1960s, the construction of a new space center at Xichang in the Sichuan province was decided, located farther from the Soviet border, thus safer. The Shuguang 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. ^[2]

[edit] First Long March-2E carrier rocket

China launched its first Long March-2E carrier rocket on July 16, 1990, sending into orbit Pakistan's first indigenously developed Badr-1 satellite and HS-601.

[edit] World's worst space accident

This occurred on February 15, 1996 when the first new Long March 3 B heavy carrier rocket carrying Intelsat 708 veered off course 22 seconds after launch, crashing 1850 meters away from the launch pad in a nearby mountain village and destroying 80 houses, according to the official count, and killing more than 500 civilians according to unofficial Chinese sources. ^[3]

[edit] China's first successful ASAT test

China conducted on January 11, 2007 an anti-satellite missile test with a SC-19 ASAT weapon.

A Chinese weather satellite — the FY-1C polar orbit satellite of the Fengyun series, at an altitude of 865 kilometres (537 mi), with a mass of 750 kg — was destroyed by a kinetic kill vehicle.

The SC-19 have been described as being based on a modified DF-21 ballistic missile or its commercial derivative, the KT-2 with a Kinetic Kill Vehicle and is fully mobile.

[edit] Beginning of China's lunar exploration program

On October 24, 2007, Chang'e 1, an un-manned Moon orbiter of the Chang'e program, was successfully launched from the facility, marking the beginning of China’s lunar exploration program.^[4]

[edit] First Long March-3C carrier rocket

China launched its first Long 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 first data relay satellite (数据中继卫星) Tianlian I (天链一号). ^[5]

[edit] Future of the center

With the completion of the upgrade of Wenchang Satellite Launch Center scheduled for 2013, all the GEO missions will be transferred to this new space center. Indeed, presenting too many inconvenients such as higher latitude, falling rocket stages on inhabited areas (Guizhou), limited transport infrastructures, the Xichang Satellite Launch Center should no longer be used for civilian duties. Nonetheless, it will not be closed but be kept to serve as a backup launch site.

[edit] Facilities

[edit] Launch pads

• As recently as 2008-06-09 the China Great Wall Industrial Corporation has used pad LA-2 at XSLC to launch a Long March 3B.^[6][7]
• The launch pad number 3 has specially been upgraded in order to support the Chang'e lunar exploration program. ^[8]

[edit] Technical Center

XSLC’s Technical Center is state of the art and is equipped for testing and integration of the payload and launch vehicle. Its Mission Command and Control Center is located 7 km southwest of the launch pad and provides flight and safety control during overall system rehearsal and launch. It is serviced by a dedicated railway and highway directly from Xichang Qingshan Airport, which is 50 kilometers away from the launch site. Two launch complexes at the facility support flight operations.^[9]

[edit] See also

• Space program of China
• Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
• Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center
• Wenchang Satellite Launch Center

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Aerial Maps from Google Maps

Coordinates: 28°14′45.66″N 102°1′35.60″E / 28.2460167°N 102.0265556°E / 28.2460167; 102.0265556