Wenchang is gearing up to operate more launch pads
Two more launch pads are nearly operational after a series of tests and inspections.
China’s fifth launch site, the Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site (文昌商业航天发射场), is nearly ready for operation. The commercial launch site is located next door to the Wenchang Space Launch Site, where only state-owned launch companies operate some of the nations newest and most capable rockets.
Both launch pads at the commercial launch site are expected to support launches before the end of the year. Commercial Launch Complex 2’s first launch is expected to be in August 2024, for the maiden flight of the Long March 12, and Commercial Launch Complex 1’s first launch is believed to be occurring in December 2024, with the first flight of the Long March 8A. Tests, inspections, and verifications of hardware and software have been taking place in the last few weeks ahead of the planned launches.
June 20th, 2024, saw a now nearly completed Commercial Launch Complex 1 perform a water deluge test for one minute and twenty seconds, to simulate the duration needed during a launch. This test had water flow on top of the launch platform and down the flame deflector, both of these are above ground level. Commercial Launch Complex 1 is the less complicated of the two commercial launch pads due to it only supporting the Long March 8 series of launch vehicles, and having dedicated launch infrastructure. The previous launch infrastructure for the Long March 8, at LC-201, differed slightly from the Long March 7, including how the rocket was attached to the mobile launch platform. Unlike launches from the Wenchang Space Launch Site, Long March 8 launch vehicles will be assembled on Commercial Launch Complex 1. This test also had the “rocket ignition” system running at the same time, to test major systems simultaneously for launches.
Commercial Launch Complex 2 has also been undergoing final hardware installation and testing ahead of a launch as soon as next month. On the 25th of June, 2024, the launch vehicle erector performed a test of its hydraulic systems, having it raise up to ninety degrees, for the same position it would have during pre-launch fuelling, over fifteen minutes. It remained in this position for a short time before it was lowered back down, and later removed from the launch stand. The next day, June 26th, a “road transportation test” was performed over four hours. This test had the launch vehicle erector driven around by three self-propelled transport vehicles between Commercial Launch Complex 2 and the technical area of the Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site. The exact route of the transportation test is unknown but other traffic and pedestrians nearby did stop to allow the launch vehicle erector to pass.
Commercial Launch Complex 2 is also significantly more complicated than any other launch pad in China, as it needs to accommodate nearly twenty different launch vehicles. The various launch vehicles are expected to be transported to the pad on the launch vehicle erector from a nearby staging area, which will be adjusted based on the vehicle's height and diameter between missions.
Another test of the launch vehicle erector occurred on June 30th at Commercial Launch Complex 2, with it repeating the same test it had previously conducted on the 25th. Commercial Launch Complex 1 also underwent another water deluge test along with a “command center launch command drill” taking place at the Commercial Space Launch Site’s launch control center. Repeating both of these tests allowed officials to declare the launch site capable of performing launch missions.
Officials from the Commercial Space Launch Site, the Wenchang Municipal People’s Government, and the Municipal Public Security Bureau met on July 9th, 2024, to go over the security of the launch site and how to perform safe launch activities. All of the groups involved agreed to work on measures to keep local residents safe, with launch site officials inviting the Municipal Public Security Bureau to participate in a joint launch rehearsal exercise.
HICAL, or Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Co., Ltd. (海南国际商业航天发射有限公司), will be the operator of these launch pads, making it the only launch site in China that is not directly run by the military. HICAL is a state-owned corporation with it being a joint venture between the Hainan Provincial Government, China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, and China Satellite Network Group.