Source: Global Times
China's first commercial space launch site has started construction
[Global Times reporter Fan Wei] " Global Times " reporter learned from China Aerospace Construction Group Co., Ltd. on the 7th that on July 6, my country again A space launch site - the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site project held a groundbreaking ceremony in Wenchang. What attracts the attention of the outside world is that this is also the first commercial space launch site in my country to officially start construction. Why does China need to build a new commercial space launch site when it already has four major space launch sites?
According to a reporter from the Global Times, commercial space launches are compared to space launches for the purpose of scientific exploration. China's existing space launch sites mainly undertake launch missions for space exploration, scientific research and other purposes. When arranging launch plans, priority will be given to important scientific research and space exploration projects, and commercial space launches will be ranked secondary. This makes the launch site a scarce resource in the commercial aerospace field, which to a certain extent restricts industrial development.
At the same time, China Aerospace After high-density launches began in recent years, the four major space launch sites have entered full capacity operation mode, and there have been calls from the outside for the need to increase launch stations. In addition, due to cost considerations for commercial launches, small and medium-sized launch vehicles are usually selected. It is not suitable to use the stations designed for large and medium-sized rockets at the four major space launch sites.
But aerospace technology expert Huang Zhicheng said in an interview with a reporter from the Global Times on the 7th that China's current space launch missions are mainly concentrated on very large state-owned aerospace companies, and China's private commercial aerospace companies only have 1-2 launch missions per year. , the existing space launch sites can still "digest" these tasks, so it is necessary to continue to observe how the commercial space launch sites will be positioned and developed in the future.
Huang Zhicheng said, "my country's commercial aerospace has developed rapidly in recent years, and some places have previously announced plans to build commercial space launch sites. For example, Ningbo, Zhejiang, proposed to build Ningbo International Commercial Space Launch Center , but my country's first official The commercial space launch site under construction is in Wenchang, Hainan. "He said that Hainan Province is the only free trade port with Chinese characteristics in the country and already has the Wenchang Space Launch Site, so it has the autonomy to build, operate and maintain commercial space launch sites. and mature experience
There are many factors to pay attention to when selecting a new space launch site.
According to the "Global Times" reporter, many space powers in the world currently choose to build space launch sites in low latitudes. For example, the United States' Kennedy Space Center is located at 28 North Latitude. Merritt Island on the east coast of Florida, USA, and the Kourou launch site in France is also located in the Kourou region of French Guiana in northern South America at 5 degrees north latitude.
Huang Zhicheng said that building a space launch site in Wenchang has several significant advantages. The first is that the geographical latitude of the launch site is around 19 degrees north latitude, which is very beneficial for space launches. Because the closer the launch site is to the equator and the lower the latitude, the less energy the rocket requires when launching the satellite , and the flight speed will be faster. Under the same conditions, if launched at the Wenchang launch site, the rocket's carrying capacity can be increased by about 7%-15%, thereby enhancing the payload of the launch vehicle, extending the service life of the spacecraft, and improving economic benefits.
In addition, building a commercial space launch site in Wenchang also has certain safety advantages. Huang Zhicheng said that the rockets launched from Wenchang have a relatively wide range and have high safety performance. Normally, the rocket launch direction is between 90 degrees and 175 degrees, which can basically meet the launch needs of various spacecrafts. In addition, most of the areas where rockets are fired are sea areas, which can effectively prevent the rocket booster and the first-level debris landing area from endangering ground safety. “So the geographical location for building a commercial space launch site in Wenchang, a tropical seaside city, is very advantageous."
Guo Qiang, executive deputy director of the Wenchang International Space City Administration, also said that building a commercial space launch site in Hainan is highly safe. The landing areas of all stages of rockets are in the ocean, with no land pollution, and the launch does not pass through densely populated areas, which is convenient for the future. Develop the rocket recycling industry; rockets launched in Hainan have a wide range of targets and can launch satellites with a variety of different orbital inclinations to meet the diverse needs of customers.
In addition, according to a reporter from the Global Times, the aerospace assembly and off-site operations in Wenchang. The collaboration center's rocket assembly and testing plant and satellite assembly and testing plant have started construction in 2021. These will become important infrastructure for the commercial aerospace industry.
Do I have to build my own space launch site?
American Space Exploration Technology Company (SpaceX Company). ) After launching the large-scale manned spacecraft "Starship" project, it plans to build a separate rocket launch station in Florida. Previously, the company had also applied to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in Florida. A private space center and rocket launch site covering an area of 27 hectares and a construction area of more than 12,000 square meters will be built at the Kennedy Space Center in New Zealand. Rocket Lab is a private rocket company headquartered in the United States and with many operations in New Zealand. The company has also built its own launch sites in Wallops Island, Virginia, in the United States, and in New Zealand. Why are commercial space companies so popular in building their own launch sites? Is it possible to meet the increasingly frequent launch needs only by building their own launch sites? Huang Zhicheng believes that it is not inevitable for commercial aerospace companies to build their own launch sites. Currently, SpaceX's intensive launches of "Falcon 9" and other rockets are carried out at the Kennedy Space Launch Center. The launch site is mainly used to test new engines and "starships" to prevent accidents of these immature equipment from endangering other aerospace projects. Rocket Lab's "Electronic" rocket is a small rocket and has a negative impact on the launch site. The requirements are not high, and there are many places that can be used for launches. Building a dedicated launch site will help further reduce the company's costs.
There is also a view that sea launches can alleviate the problem of insufficient commercial space launch sites. Several sea launch missions have been carried out, and a sea launch site homeport has also been built in Haiyang, Shandong. This is considered a feasible commercial space launch model. Huang Zhicheng said that based on the relevant experience of Russia and the United States, the sea launch site has been established. The most ideal place is still near the equator. At present, my country's sea launch activities are still relatively far north. In addition, compared with sea launches, land launch sites located on the seaside will have more advantages in terms of safety and reliability.
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