The Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site (Chinese: 文昌商业航天发射场), located at Wenchang, Hainan, is China's first commercial space launch site, and 5th space launch site. The launch site started construction in July 2022, and is expected to be put into service in 2024.[1]
History
The Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site is built and operated by HICAL, a joint venture of the Hainan government and three state-owned conglomerates. In China, a commercial space center is a site owned by an entity other than the Government or Military.[2]
Construction of the site started in July 2022, and the launch complex one was finished on Dec 29, 2023.[1][3] As of April 2024, the second pad is set to be finished by the end of May, with 19 different rockets from nine companies expected to launch using LC-2.[4]
^ a b"Commercial space launch site begins construction". China Daily. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
^Joseph, Joane. "Work begins on China's First Commercial Spacecraft Launch Centre at Hainan". GizmoChina. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
^Jones, Andrew (5 January 2024). "China completes new commercial launch pad to boost access to space". SpaceNews. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
^Jones, Andrew (4 April 2024). "China putting finishing touches on seaside spaceport for commercial launches (video)". Space.com. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
