[CMSE News] The construction of Hainan Launching Site was initiated in Wenchang, Hainan on 14th, September, which indicates that the construction of China’s new spaceflight launching site has been fully started. When completed and put into service, the launching site will be of strategic significance by optimizing and consummating the layout of China’s spaceflight launching sites as well as boosting the sustainable development of China’s space flight cause.

Chang Wanquan, member of the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee, Chief of the PLA General Armaments Department and the chief commander of the China Manned Space Engineering Project, attended the commencement ceremony and laid the foundation for Hainan Spaceflight Launching Site.

Hainan Spaceflight Launching Site is composed of launching site area and a tracking, telemetry and command station. The launching site area located at about 19°N is composed of a launching zone, a technical zone, a testing and coordination zone and technical and logistics supporting systems It will be mainly used to launch new-generation large-sized launch vehicles free from toxicity and pollution, so it will undertake space flight launching tasks for geostationary orbit satellites, large-mass polar orbiting satellites, large-tonnage space stations and deep space exploration spacecrafts. When finished, the launching site can not only basically meet the domestic and overseas needs to launch various orbit satellites but also provide China’s launch vehicles with vast opportunities to participate more actively into international commercial space flight launching services; thus, it will be a benign cycle to promote the development of China’s space technologies. Meanwhile, it will also play an active role to boost the construction of infrastructures in Hainan Province, promote the development of the tourist industry, and make regional industries prosper.

The existing launching sites in China, Jiuquan Launching Site, Taiyuan Launching Site and Xichang Launching Site, were constructed in the 1950s and the 1960s. After dozens of years’ construction and development, the 3 sites have become world famous modern launching sites. Till now, more than 100 spaceflight launching tasks have been undertaken on these launching sites. Thanks to its high starting point, Hainan Spaceflight Launching Site will be highly automated, informatized, intelligentized; with the reliability and level safety further improved, the construction and use of such a launching site will make the prospects for China’s spaceflight launch business even vaster.

It is expected that the Hainan spaceflight Launching Site will be completed and put into use in 2013.