Xichang Satellite Launch Centre (Base 27)
Last updated: 1 April 2008
Xichang Satellite Launch Centre (XSLC), also known as Base 27 in its military code name, is located at 28°14’ N 102°02’ E, in a valley approximately 65km northwest of Xichang City in Sichuan Province. The launch centre supports all geosynchronous orbit (GEO) launch missions in the PRC. In 2007, the centre was also used to launch the first Chinese lunar orbiting probe. With its launch complex #3 fully upgraded, the launch centre is now able to support over 10 missions every year.
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| Launch complex #3 of XSLC after the modernisation refurbishment (Source: Chinese Internet) |
Xichang is of typical subtropical climate, with an annual average temperature of 16ºC and gentle ground wind. The Xichang Airport is in the north suburbs of Xichang city, with a 3,600m runway that can take off and land large aircraft such as Boeing 747. Dedicated railway and highway links lead directly to the launch site with the Chengdu-Kunming railway and Sichuan-Yunnan highway.
The XSLC consists of the headquarters, launch centre, technical centre, communications centre, mission command & control centre (MCCC), three tracking stations, and a range of support facilities. The launch site has two launch pads (#2 and #3). The headquarters is located in Xichang City.
The space launch vehicle (SLV) is transported to XSLC in parts by railway. A dedicated railway line passes through the launch centre to deliver the launch vehicle parts directly into the SLV processing complex, which has a capacity of processing one SLV and storing another at the same time. The satellite is normally delivered to the Xichang Airport by air, and then transported to the XSLC by road.
History
As a result of the worsening relation with the Soviet Union in 1969, the Chinese leadership decided to build a new satellite launch site in the southwest Sichuan province father away from the Sino-Soviet border. The constriction work commenced in 1970 and the launch site became operational in 1984.
Throughout the 1980s, the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre was mainly used to support PRC’s domestic DFH-2 communications satellite programme using the CZ-3 launch vehicle, with six launches carried out between 1984 and 1990.
In the early 1990s, the highly classified launch centre opened its doors to foreigners as the PRC entered the international market of commercial space launch services. On 7 April 1990, a CZ-3A rocket launched from XSLC successfully placing the AsiaSat 1 into the orbit, marking a new chapter in the launch centre’s history.
However, a number of high-profile failures at XSLC in the 1990s almost forced the PRC out of the commercial launch market. The most fatal accident occurred on 15 February 1996, when a CZ-3B rocket failed to launch during its maiden flight. The launch vehicle was off course only two seconds after take-off. It then hit the ground and exploded at T+22 seconds, destroying the US$125 million IntelSat 708 satellite onboard, killing 6 ground staffs and injuring another 57.
XSLC continued both domestic and commercial space launches in the 2000s. The frequency of launch has increased since 2005 following the refurbishment of the launch complex #3. On 17 January 2007, an anti-satellite (ASAT) missile was reportedly carried out from XSLC, or a nearby site. On 24 October, the PRC launched its first lunar orbiting probe from XSLC.
The future of XSLC became somehow gloomy in late 2007, when the PRC government announced that it would build a new satellite launch centre in Wenchang, Hainan Province. Once the new launch centre becomes fully operational around 2014, it will replace XSLC for most GEO missions, with XSLC becoming a backup launch site.
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| The service tower and launch pad of the launch complex #2 (Source: Chinese Internet) |
Facilities
Launch Pad #1
The XSLC was originally built to support the Project 714 manned space programme in the early 1970s, with a dedicated launch pad (#1) planned. However, the project was later abandoned and launch pad #1 was never built. A viewing platform for visitors has been built at site today.
Launch Complex #2
The launch complex #2 became operational in 1990 to replace the launch pad #3 for GEO launches. Designed for the launch of more powerful rockets such as CZ-3A and CZ-2E, the launch complex consists of a service tower, an umbilical tower, a launch pad, and a launch control centre (LCC).
Once a launch vehicle finishes its initial preparation and testing in the technical centre, it is assembled inside the service tower. The top section of the tower is air-conditioned to cleanness class 100,000 for the examination and preparation of the satellite. After the satellite is ready, it is then integrated with the launch vehicle inside the tower. The tower, moves on rail tracks, then shifts the launch vehicle in vertical position to the launch pad.
The fuelling of the launch vehicle, and the final check of the launch vehicle and the satellite, are carried out in the umbilical tower on the launch pad. Part of the tower is also air-conditioned to cleanness class 100,000.
The fully air-conditioned, explosion-proof launch control centre (LCC) by the launch pad is used for the command and control of launch operations, as well as remote control on various pre-launch tests and examinations. The centre consists of a number of test and control units, and is connected to other facilities in the launch site by cable and radio communications.
Launch Complex #3
The launch complex #3 before modernisation upgrade was the oldest launch pad in the XSLC, first becoming operational in 1984 for CZ-3 launches. The launch complex comprised an independent launch pad and an umbilical tower. Following the commission of the launch complex #2, the complex #3 became a backup to be used when the main launch complex (#2) is not serviceable. A total of 16 launches were carried out from the launch complex #3 between 1983 and 2005.
In 2005, the original launch pad and umbilical tower of the launch complex #3 were scraped and replaced by new facilities. The upgraded complex #3 was completed in December 2006. The first launch from the complex after the modernisation upgrade took place on 14 April 2007, when a CZ-3A rocket carrying the Compass-M1 (BD-2) navigation and positioning satellite was successfully launched.
Future launch missions at XSLC will be carried out in turn from the two launch complexes to support more frequent launches. It was reported that XSLC is scheduled to carry out more than 10 launches every year in the next five years.
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| Xichang Site Launch Centre is located in a mountain valley in Sichuan Province (Source: Chinese Internet) |
Technical Centre
The technical centre is 2.2km away from the launch site. Here the launch vehicles and satellites are prepared, examined and tested before being moved to the launch pads. The technical centre consists of a launch vehicle processing complex (BL) for launch vehicle transit (BL1) and testing (BL2), and a spacecraft process complex (BS) for handling hazard rocket motors and propellant used by the satellite.
Mission Command and Control Centre (MCCC)
The MCCC is located 7.5km southeast of the launch centre. The building comprises a central command and control hall and a computer centre. Functions of the MCCC includes commanding operations of the tracking stations and monitoring the performance and status of the tracking equipment; performing the range safety control after the lift-off of the launch vehicle; gathering TT&C information from the stations and processing data in real-time; providing acquisition and tracking data to Xi’an Satellite Control Centre (XSCC) and tracking stations across the country; and performing post-mission data processing. The centre also has a visitor room, which enables VIP visitors to watch the launch operation on television screen.
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