Wenzhou’s Development and Reform Commission opened procurement on November 2, 2026, for a study to select a location for a proposed commercial sea-launch facility in Zhejiang Province, China. The competitive consultation announcement concerns planning work to evaluate the facility’s location, supporting infrastructure, and operating arrangements.
The announcement follows a procurement-intention notice dated October 29. The published procurement scope calls for site assessment, preliminary project planning, and an engineering investment estimate.
What the Site Study Covers
The study examines land-use planning, airspace, maritime areas, environmental conditions, safety protection, and transport connections. Meteorological and geological conditions also form part of the assessment. These subjects bring the coastal facilities and offshore launch area into the same planning exercise.
The procurement calls for an assessment of the project’s necessity and feasibility and an explanation of Wenzhou’s comparative advantages. Requested recommendations address site controls, safety separation, supporting infrastructure, social risks, and operational support.
Regional development plans and effects on nearby communities are included in the scope. The study’s findings are intended to provide a technical basis for subsequent project decisions and formal project initiation.
Connecting Offshore Launches With Coastal Infrastructure
Sea-based launch systems combine activities at a coastal support base with launches from a vessel or floating platform. The historical Sea Launch operation used separate assembly-and-command and launch-platform vessels, illustrating how maritime infrastructure can support rocket preparation and offshore operations.
Wenzhou’s proposed study connects launch requirements with transport access and supporting facilities. Its assessment of maritime areas, airspace, and safety separation will inform the selection of an offshore operating location.
The proposal follows local discussion of commercial-space development. According to Chinese-language coverage of the initiative, Ye Jianqiu, speaking for the local branch of the China Zhi Gong Party at a July 21 municipal political consultative meeting, identified deepwater ports and Wenzhou’s electrical-equipment, pump-and-valve, and materials industries as relevant assets for space activity.
The October procurement-intention notice specified completion of the research services by the end of December 2026. The requested deliverable is a site-selection plan combining location analysis, preliminary engineering arrangements, investment estimates, and recommendations for operating support.
