China has taken a significant step towards expanding its commercial space activities with the completion of the first launch pad at the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site. This new spaceport, located on the southern island province of Hainan, is set to become a dedicated facility for commercial rocket launches, marking a new era for China’s burgeoning private space industry.
The Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site
The Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site is situated adjacent to the existing Wenchang Satellite Launch Center, which has been operational since 2014 and is primarily used for government-led space missions. The new commercial spaceport will feature two launch pads, with the first one completed on December 29, 2023, and the second expected to be ready by the end of May 2024.
The first launch pad, designed specifically for China’s new-generation medium-sized rocket, the Long March 8, incorporates advanced technologies such as a cone exhaust guide and extrusion water spray system for cooling and noise reduction. This launch pad is expected to host regular commercial launches starting in 2024.
Boosting Commercial Space Activities
The construction of the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site is a significant step towards fostering the growth of China’s commercial space sector. In recent years, the country has witnessed a surge in private space companies, driven by a 2014 government policy that opened up select space sectors to private investment.
With the new spaceport, these commercial entities will have access to dedicated launch facilities, alleviating the bottleneck of access to existing state-owned launch sites. This increased accessibility is expected to boost the number of commercial launches and further drive down costs, making Chinese space services more competitive in the global market.
According to Guo Qiang, director of the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Co., Ltd., the site is designed to handle several dozen or even over 100 satellite launches per year, forming constellations at reduced costs.
A Diverse Range of Launch Vehicles
The Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site is designed to accommodate a wide range of launch vehicles from various manufacturers. While the first pad is dedicated to the Long March 8, the second pad will be a universal launch complex capable of hosting 19 different launch vehicles from nine manufacturers, including state-owned and private companies.
Among the private companies expected to utilize the new facilities are iSpace, CAS Space, and Deep Blue Aerospace, all of which are developing reusable liquid-fueled rockets. Deep Blue Aerospace aims to launch its first Nebula-1 reusable rocket from the second pad in late 2024.
A Stepping Stone for China’s Space Ambitions
The Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site is not only a boost for China’s commercial space sector but also a stepping stone for the country’s broader space ambitions. The Wenchang Satellite Launch Center, located adjacent to the new commercial spaceport, is expected to play a crucial role in China’s planned human lunar landing missions.
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the country’s main space contractor, is developing a crew launcher for lunar missions, which is expected to have its first test launch around 2026. A pair of these triple-core, three-stage rockets could support a short-term human lunar landing mission before 2030.
Additionally, Wenchang is slated to host launches of the Long March 9, China’s planned super heavy-lift rocket, which will be used for future lunar missions and other ambitious space endeavors.
As China continues to expand its space capabilities and ambitions, the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site represents a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to foster a thriving commercial space industry and establish itself as a major player in the global space arena.
