Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC; Chinese: 酒泉卫星发射中心; pinyin: Jiǔquán Wèixīng Fāshè Zhōngxīn), also known as the Shuang Cheng Tzu Missile Test Center, Launch Complex B2, the Northwest Comprehensive Missile Testing Facility (西北综合导弹试验基地), Base 20, or Unit 63600,^[1] is a Chinese spaceport and a corps-grade^[2] unit subordinate to the People's Liberation Army Aerospace Force. It is located between Ejin Banner, Alxa League, Inner Mongolia, and Hangtian Town, Jinta County, Jiuquan Prefecture, Gansu Province.^[3] The center forms part of Dongfeng Aerospace City (Base 10). Although most of the facility lies within Jinta County, the spaceport is named after Jiuquan. The launch center spans both sides of the Ruo Shui river.^[4]

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center

Map of Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
Interactive map of Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
Location	Ejin, Alxa, Inner Mongolia & Hangtian, Jinta, Jiuquan, Gansu
Coordinates	40°57′29″N 100°17′28″E
Time zone	UTC+8 (China Standard)
Operator	China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
Total launches	241
Launch pad	12
SLS-1 launch history Status Active Launches 27 First launch 19 November 1999 Long March 2F / Shenzhou 1 Last launch 25 November 2025 Long March 2F / Shenzhou 22 Associated rockets Long March 2F SLS-2 launch history Status Active Launches 130 First launch 3 November 2003 Long March 2D / FSW-3 1 Last launch 9 December 2025 Long March 4B / Yaogan 47 Associated rockets Long March 2C Long March 2D Long March 4B Long March 4C LS-95A launch history Status Active Launches 65 First launch 25 September 2013 Kuaizhou-1 / Kuaizhou 1 (satellite) Last launch 13 December 2025 Kuaizhou 11 / DEAR-5 Associated rockets Kuaizhou-1 (retired) OS-M1 (retired) Zhuque-1 (retired) Kaituozhe-2 (retired) Kuaizhou-1A Kuaizhou-11 Hyperbola-1 Ceres-1 Long March 11 Jielong 1 LS-96 launch history Status Active Launches 6 First launch 14 December 2022 Zhuque-2 / various satellites Last launch 15 August 2025 Zhuque-2 / Unknown Payload Associated rockets Zhuque-2 LS-96B launch history Status Active Launches 1 First launch 3 December 2025 Zhuque-3 / Demo Flight Associated rockets Zhuque-3 LS-120 launch history Status Active Launches 1 First launch 2 April 2023 Tianlong-2 / Jinta Last launch 2 April 2023 Tianlong-2 / Jinta Associated rockets Tianlong-2 LS-130 launch history Status Active Launches 11 First launch 27 July 2022 Kinetica 1 / SATech 01 Last launch 10 December 2025 Kinetica 1 / 9 Satellites Associated rockets Kinetica 1

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
Simplified Chinese	酒泉卫星发射中心
Traditional Chinese	酒泉衛星發射中心
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Jiǔquán wèixīng fāshè zhōngxīn IPA [tɕjòʊtɕʰɥɛ̌n wêɪɕíŋ fáʂɤ̂ ʈʂʊ́ŋɕín]

History

Founded in 1958, JSLC is the oldest of China’s four spaceports. Like most Chinese launch facilities, it is located in a remote area and is generally closed to foreign visitors.

The launch center is part of Dongfeng Space City (东风航天城), also known as Base 10 (十号基地) or the Dongfeng base (东风基地). The broader Dongfeng site includes test-flight facilities for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), a space museum, and a martyrs’ cemetery (东风烈士陵园).^{[5][better source needed]}

JSLC is used for launching spacecraft into low- and medium-Earth orbits with high inclination, as well as for testing medium- and long-range missiles. Its facilities include the technical center, launch complexes, launch control center, mission command center, and associated logistical systems.^{[citation needed]}

The center covers about 2,800 km² and reportedly houses up to 20,000 personnel. Many of its systems and equipment were likely modelled on Soviet designs, and the Soviet Union probably provided early technical assistance.^{[citation needed]}

JSLC was expanded during China’s Third Front campaign to develop defense-related industry in inland regions in anticipation of potential conflict with the Soviet Union or the United States.^[6]: 218

The site has supported many major Chinese space milestones, including the launch of China’s first satellite Dong Fang Hong I in 1970,^[7]: 218 and the first crewed space mission Shenzhou 5 in 2003. As of 2021, all Chinese crewed launches—including missions to the Tiangong space station—have originated from Jiuquan.^{[citation needed]}

In August 2016, China launched the first quantum-communication satellite, Quantum Experiments at Space Scale, from JSLC.^[8]

In August 2018, Chinese commercial rocket companies i-Space and OneSpace conducted sub-orbital launches from the center.^[9] On 25 July 2019, I-Space carried out the first successful Chinese private orbital launch from Jiuquan using the Hyperbola-1 rocket.^{[citation needed]}

Launch pads

The launch site includes two launch complexes, each with multiple pads.

North Launch Complex

The North Launch Complex contains two inactive launch areas.

• Launch Area 2: used for orbital launches and ballistic-missile tests.
  • LA-2A: used for DF-3 and DF-5 ballistic-missile launches and for the earliest Chinese orbital missions using the CZ-1 (last orbital launch in 1971). (41.3088°N 100.3165°E / 41.3088; 100.3165 (LA-2A))
  • LA-2B: used for CZ-2A, CZ-2C, CZ-2D, and FB-1 launches (last used in 1996). (41.3061°N 100.3132°E / 41.3061; 100.3132 (LA-2B))

• Launch Area 3: located about 2.7 kilometres (1.7 mi) south of LA-2, used for DF-1, DF-2, and R-2 missile launches.
  • North pad (41.2831°N 100.3047°E / 41.2831; 100.3047 (LA-3 north pad))
  • South pad (41.2804°N 100.3045°E / 41.2804; 100.3045 (LA-3 south pad))

South Launch Complex

The South Launch Complex is active and supports launches of CASC's Long March vehicles as well as commercial rockets.

• Launch Area 4: about 37.9 kilometres (23.5 mi) south of LA-3.
  • SLS-1 (LS-43/91): active since 1999, used for crew-rated Long March 2F missions and served by a nearby Vertical Assembly Facility. (40.960671°N 100.298186°E / 40.960671; 100.298186 (SLS-1))
  • SLS-2 (LS-43/94): active since 2003, used for Long March 2C, Long March 2D, Long March 4B, and Long March 4C launches. (40.957893°N 100.290944°E / 40.957893; 100.290944 (SLS-2))

• Commercial launch pads (various locations south and east of LA-4):
  • LS-95: two pads used for Long March 11, Kuaizhou, Jielong 1, OS-M1, Hyperbola-1, and Ceres-1 launches.
    • Pad A (40.9698°N 100.3439°E / 40.9698; 100.3439 (LS-95A))
    • Pad B (40.9725°N 100.3639°E / 40.9725; 100.3639 (LS-95B))
  • LS-96: operated by LandSpace for the Zhuque-2 launcher. (40.9149°N 100.2454°E / 40.9149; 100.2454 (LS-96))
  • LS-120: operated by Space Pioneer for the Tianlong-2 launcher. (40.8556°N 100.1992°E / 40.8556; 100.1992 (LS-120))
  • LS-130: operated by CAS Space for the Kinetica 1 launcher. (40.8186°N 100.2240°E / 40.8186; 100.2240 (LS-130))

Image gallery

• 
  KH-7 satellite image of the facility in 1967.
• 
  A warning board at the gate.
• 
  Launch Vehicle Vertical Assembly Building.
• 
  Tower 1 and 2 behind a sign.
• 
  Launch tower.
• 
  Launch of Long March 2D (VRSS-1 / Miranda).
• 
  Roll out of Long March 2F (Shenzhou 12).
• 
  Launch of Long March 2F (Shenzhou 12).

See also

• Spaceflight portal

• Chinese space program
• Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center
• Wenchang Satellite Launch Center
• Xichang Satellite Launch Center
• Hyperbola-1