Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center
Launch site in Shanxi, China
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Long March 6 on Launch Pad 16 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Interactive map of Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Kelan, Xinzhou, Shanxi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38°50′56.71″N 111°36′30.59″E | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Short name | TSLC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator | CASC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total launches | 150[a] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch pad(s) | Five (four active, one retired) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch history | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Active | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center (TSLC),[1] also known as Base 25 (Chinese: 二十五基地), is a Chinese space and defense launch facility (spaceport) situated in Kelan County, Xinzhou, Shanxi Province. It is the second of four launch sites, having been founded in March 1966 and coming into full operation in 1968.
The facility was built as part of China's Third Front campaign to develop basic industry and national security in China's rugged interior in case of invasion by the Soviet Union or the United States.[2]
Taiyuan sits at an altitude of 1,500 meters, and its dry climate makes it an ideal launch site. The site is primarily used to launch meteorological satellites, Earth resource satellites, and scientific satellites on Long March launch vehicles into Sun-synchronous orbits. TSLC is also a major launch site for intercontinental ballistic missiles and overland submarine-launched ballistic missile tests.
The site has a sophisticated technical center and mission command and control center. It is served by two feeder railways that connect with the Ningwu–Kelan railway.[1]
Launch pads
- Launch Site 7: CZ-1D, CZ-2C/SD, CZ-4A, CZ-4B and CZ-4C vehicles.[3][4] Entered operations in 1979 and was remodeled in 2008.[5] Located at 38.848737°N 111.607970°E.
- Launch Site 9: CZ-2C, CZ-2D, CZ-4B and CZ-4C.[6] First use on 25 October 2008.[7][5] Located at 38.863200°N 111.589639°E.
- Launch Site 16: CZ-6 and Kuaizhou-1A.[8] The CZ-6 Launch Pad was completed in 2014.[5] Located at 38.868223°N 111.580264°E.
- Launch Site 9A: CZ-6A and CZ-6C Vehicle. Located at 38.858654°N 111.584808°E.
- Mobile Launcher Pad: Kuaizhou-1A.
Launches
Previous launches
| Date | Vehicle | Serial number | Launch Pad | Payload | Outcome | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 September 1988 20:30 UTC | Long March 4A | 4A-Y1 | LA-7 | Fengyun 1A | Success | |
| 9 September 1990 00:53 UTC | Long March 4A | 4A-Y2 | LA-7 | Fengyun 1B QQW-1,2 |
Success | |
| 1 September 1997 14:00 UTC | Long March 2C/SD | 2CFP-Y1 | LA-7 | Iridium mass simulator A Iridium mass simulator B |
Success | |
| 8 December 1997 | Long March 2C/SD | LA-7 | Iridium 42 Iridium 44 |
Success | ||
| 25 March 1998 | Long March 2C/SD | LA-7 | Iridium 51 Iridium 61 |
Success | ||
| 2 May 1998 | Long March 2C/SD | LA-7 | Iridium 69 Iridium 71 |
Success | ||
| 20 August 1998 | Long March 2C/SD | LA-7 | Iridium 76 Iridium 78 |
Success | ||
| 19 December 1998 | Long March 2C/SD | LA-7 | Iridium 88 Iridium 89 |
Success | ||
| 10 May 1999 | Long March 4B | LA-7 | Fengyun 1C Shijian 5 |
Success | ||
| 11 June 1999 | Long March 2C/SD | LA-7 | Iridium 92 Iridium 93 |
Success | ||
| 14 October 1999 | Long March 4B | LA-7 | CBERS-1 SACI 1 |
Success | ||
| 1 September 2000 | Long March 4B | LA-7 | Ziyuan-2 01 | Success | ||
| 15 May 2002 | Long March 4B | LA-7 | Fengyun 1D HaiYang 1A |
Success | ||
| 15 September 2002 | Kaituozhe 1 | KLP | PS-1 | Failed | ||
| 27 October 2002 | Long March 4B | LA-7 | Ziyuan-2 02 | Success | ||
| 16 September 2003 | Kaituozhe 1 | KLP | PS-2 | Failed | ||
| 21 October 2003 | Long March 4B | LA-7 | CBERS-2 Chuangxin-1 01 |
Success | ||
| 25 July 2004 | Long March 2C/SM | LA-7 | Double Star P | Success | ||
| 9 September 2004 | Long March 4B | LA-7 | Shijian 6A Shijian 6B |
Success | ||
| 6 November 2004 | Long March 4B | LA-7 | Ziyuan-2 03 | Success | ||
| 9 June 2005 | Kaituozhe 1 | KLP | PS-2 | Failed | ||
| 27 April 2006 | Long March 4C | LA-7 | Yaogan 1 | Success | ||
| 6 November 2020 03:19 UTC | Long March 6 | Y3 | LA-16 | ÑuSat 9-18 (10 Sats) | Success[9] | |
| 29 March 2022 09:50 UTC[10] | Long March 6A | 6A-Y1 | LA-9A | Pujiang-2
Tiankun-2 |
Success[11] | First flight at the "smart" launch pad, and the maiden flight of Long March 6A. |
| 11 November 2022 22:52 UTC | Long March 6A | 6A-Y2 | LA-9A | Yunhai-3-01 | Success[12] | |
| 20 June 2023 03:18 UTC | Long March 6 | Y12 | LA-16 | Shiyan 25 | Success[13] | |
| 8 August 2023 UTC | Long March 2C | 2C-Y46 | LA-9 | S-SAR 02 (Huanjing 2F) | Success[14] | |
| 10 September 2023 04:30 UTC | Long March 6A | 6A-Y5 | LA-9A | Yaogan 40A Yaogan 40B Yaogan 40C |
Success[15] | |
| 13 January 2026 14:16 UTC | Long March 6A | 6A-Y4 | LA-9A | Tianhui-5A Tianhui-5B |
Success | |
| Date | Vehicle | Serial number | Launch Pad | Payload | Outcome | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 March 2024 22:51 UTC | Long March 6A | 6A-Y3 | LA-9A | Yunhai-3-02 | Success[16] | |
| 7 May 2024 UTC | Long March 6C | Y1 | LA-9A | Success | ||
Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center was to launch a satellite coded as the 03 Group of the Shijian-6 serial research satellites sometime on 24 October 2008. The rocket carrier was to be a Long March 4B, noting both the satellite and the rocket were in good condition and all the preparations for the launch had been completed.[17]
The DongFang Spaceport
The DongFang Spaceport (东方航天港) is a maritime launch center under the jurisdiction of Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center.[18] Its home port is in Haiyang, Yantai.[19] It uses sea-launch platforms to perform launch missions in the exclusive economic zone outside China's territorial waters or in coastal waters. It can accept launch missions from private commercial rockets.
The first launch mission was serial number HY1 mission of Long March 11 on 04:06, 5 June 2019, which was successful in the Yellow Sea.[20] The recent launch was the first launch of Gravity-1 on 13:30, 11 January 2024, which was successful in the Yellow Sea.[21]
