Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Long March-8.
Credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab

China is spotlighting the completion of the Number 1 launch pad of the country’s first commercial spacecraft launch site, in the city of Wenchang, on south China’s island province of Hainan – the dedicated site for China’s new-generation medium-sized rocket, Long March 8.

The Long March-8 carrier rocket is a new-generation medium-sized launch vehicle mainly for low-Earth and sun-synchronous orbits payload launch missions.

Construction of that launch pad started in July 2022, and the equipment-installation phase is almost complete, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency.

According to China Central Television, the Number 1 launch pad contains 11 types of equipment and facilities like a fixed service tower and launch platform.

Compared with a traditional launch pad, the modular steel structure launch tower reduced the construction period by half.

Regular launches from the Hainan International Commercial Space Launch Center are expected in 2024.

Wang Peng, chief engineer, overall design team, China’s commercial spacecraft launch site project.
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab

Cooling, noise effects

Wang Peng, chief engineer, overall design team, China’s commercial spacecraft launch site project told China Central Television (CCTV): “The conventional underground diversion method requires digging a deep diversion trench, reaching depths of around 30 to 40 meters, which would lead to a massive amount of work. Now, we have adopted the ground gas exhaust guide to make some improvements, aiming to efficiently exhaust the gas during rocket launches, prevent reverse curling and splashing, and avoid any adverse impact on the entire rocket launch process.”

Wang added that the extrusion water spray system can be adjusted, enhancing the cooling and noise reduction effects.

Guo Qiang, deputy secretary of the Party Committee of Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Co., Ltd.
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab

Launch pad #2

A Number 2 launch pad is still at the construction phase, with on-site equipment installation to be completed by the end of May 2024.

“At the same time, we are stepping up the construction of the No. 2 launch pad, which is also for medium-sized liquid-propellant rockets,” said Yang Tianliang, chairman of Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Co., Ltd., told China Media Group (CMG).

At present, there are four launch sites in China: the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, the Xichang Satellite Launch Center and the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site.

The two launch pads at the country’s fifth launch site are both designed to support 16 launches per year. While the No. 1 launch pad is for the Long March-8 rocket, the No. 2 pad is designed for more than 10 types of rockets from nine manufacturers, and a higher density of launch will lead to a lower cost, said Guo Qiang, deputy secretary of the Party Committee of Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Co., Ltd.