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“Long March 8” is preparing to launch in central Hainan


The Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Center in Wenchang, a coastal city in Hainan province, is preparing for its second mission: the launch of the Long March 8 carrier rocket, according to the new spaceport’s executive director.

Liu Hongjian said at a press conference at the center on Saturday that the Long March 8 rocket had been transported to the center and engineers from all relevant parties were busy preparing for the launch.

The launch is expected to take place later this year from Launch Pad No. 1, he said.

The Wenchang-based Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Center is a joint venture between the Hainan provincial government and three state-owned space companies, including China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp.

Construction of the center began in July 2022 and was carried out by China Aerospace Construction Group.

Launch Service Tower No. 1 was completed at the end of December and is specifically responsible for servicing Long March 8 launch vehicles.

The second tower was completed at the beginning of June. It is capable of operating 19 types of liquid-propellant launch vehicles, including those of the Long March family and models developed by private companies.

On Saturday evening, a Long March 12 rocket was launched from Tower No. 2, marking the model’s first flight and the new center’s first space mission.

“The No. 2 tower is capable of handling missiles of various sizes, from 3.35 meter wide types to those with a diameter of 5 meters. This means it is suitable for all of China’s commercial missiles,” Liu said. “Each of the two launch towers can accommodate up to 16 launches each year.”

The commercial spaceport is the fifth ground-based launch complex in China and the first dedicated to facilitating commercial space missions, which are generally paid for by a business entity rather than government-funded programs.

The Wenchang Space Launch Center, the other spaceport in Hainan, like the three other such centers in China – Jiuquan, Taiyuan and Xichang – is managed by the central government and is primarily tasked with supporting government programs such as lunar exploration and manned space flights .

Designed and built by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp., the Long March 8 features two core stages and two side boosters. It has six engines powered by liquid oxygen, liquid hydrogen and kerosene.

The model conducted its first mission in December 2020 from the Wenchang Space Launch Center.

The Long March 8 is capable of transporting different types of spacecraft into multiple types of orbits. However, its primary mission is to place satellites into sun-synchronous orbit to meet the increasing demand for launch services from commercial satellite companies at home and abroad.

“Long March 8” is preparing to launch in central Hainan

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