Xi'an Satellite Control Center

The Xi'an Satellite Tracking, Telemetry, and Control Center (XSCC; {{zh|c=|s=西安卫星测控中心|p=Xī'ān wèixīng cèkòng zhōngxīn}}), also known as Base 26, is the primary satellite telemetry, tracking, and control facility of the People's Republic of China.{{cite web |title=Base 26 Xian Satellite Monitor and Control Center (XSCC) |publisher=Federation of American Scientists |date=June 19, 1998 |url=http://www.fas.org/spp/guide/china/facility/xscc.htm |access-date=23 March 2014}} Located in the Beilin District of Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, XSCC is subordinate to the Satellite Launch, Tracking, and Control Department of the People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force (PLASSF).

History

The history of the Xi'an Satellite Monitor and Control Center began in 1967 with the founding of the Satellite Ground Tracking Department ({{Zh|s=卫星地面测量部|p=Wèixīng Dìmiàn Cèliáng Bù}}) in Qiaonan sub-district, Shaanxi on Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC, Base 20). On 24 April 1970, when the People's Republic of China (PRC) launched its first artificial satellite, Dong Fang Hong 1, into orbit from JSLC, The Satellite Ground Tracking Department provided the "three grasps" (satellite tracking, telemetry, and control, TT&C) using the newly developed 7010 and Type 110 radars. Upgraded to a center in September 1975, as the PRC increased its testing of satellites, ICBMs, and SLBMs in the early 1980s and the TT&C network grew. The organization evolved into its current form in 1987, moving to Xi'an from Weinan.{{Cite report |url=https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/CASI/documents/Research/Space/2021-03-01%20Chinas%20Ground%20Segment.pdf |title=China's Ground Segment: Building the Pillars of a Great Space Power |last1=Wood |first1=Peter |last2=Stone |first2=Alex |date=March 2021}}{{Cite news |last=Wang |first=Xiaoyi |date=25 April 2016 |title=探访中国西安卫星测控中心：卫星"管家"铸"丰碑" |language=zh |trans-title=Visiting China's Xi'an Satellite Measurement and Control Center: Satellite "steward" casts "Monument" |work=China News Network |url=http://news.163.com/16/0425/14/BLGKJVSI00014JB6.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220083327/http://news.163.com/16/0425/14/BLGKJVSI00014JB6.html |archive-date=20 February 2017}}

By the 1980s, China's TT&C network ({{Zh|s=[航天测控网|p=hángtiān cèkòng wǎng}}) consisted of two command and control (C2) centers: the Xi'an Satellite Control (XSCC) and Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center (BACC), supported by six ground stations: Changchun, Lingshui, Kashgar, Nanning, Weinan, Xiamen, and a series of Yuan Wang-class tracking ships.

The facility was established in Weinan as the "Satellite Survey Department" in 1967, and relocated to Xi'an in 1987.{{cite book |last=Harvey |first=Brian |author-link=Brian Harvey (author) |title=China in Space: The Great Leap Forward |publisher=Springer |year=2013 |pages=60–63 |isbn=978-1461450436}}{{cite book |last1=Smith |first1=I.C. |last2=West |first2=Nigel |author-link2=Rupert Allason |title=Historical Dictionary of Chinese Intelligence |publisher=Scarecrow Press |year=2012 |page=97 |isbn=978-0810873704}}{{cite web |last=Yunzhi |first=Zhang |title=Xi'an Satellite Control Center and Orbit Dynamics Technology |url=http://aero.tamu.edu/sites/default/files/faculty/alfriend/S1.1%20Zhang.pdf |access-date=23 March 2014}} Today, the XSCC comprises a mission control station in Xi'an and a set of tracking arrays located outside the city on a mountain plateau. The tracking station is equipped with antenna farms, masts, and communications dishes, while the mission control station is equipped with television screens, consoles, plotters, and high-speed computers that allow technicians to trace the orbital paths of all Chinese satellites in orbit.

Organization

Xi'an SMCC is the central coordinator for the system of TT&C stations, which include the following subordinate agencies and ground stations:

Tracking and Control Technology Center (测控技术部){{cite web |title = Impression of Shaanxi: Xi'an Satellite Tracking and Control Center |url = http://shaanxi.cnwest.com/content/2007-01/08/content_396633.htm |access-date=2010-07-13 |date=2007-01-08|website=West China Network |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120622055843/http://shaanxi.cnwest.com/content/2007-01/08/content_396633.htm |archive-date=2012-06-22 |url-status=dead }}
Department of Long-Term Spacecraft Management (航天器长期管理部){{Cite web |date=2013-12-03 |title=中国首个在轨航天器"诊所"在西安成立 |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/local/2013-12/03/c_118400502.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220082524/http://news.xinhuanet.com/local/2013-12/03/c_118400502.htm |archivedate=2017-02-20 |accessdate=2016-10-04 |publisher=新华网 |url-status=live}}
Operations Tracking and Control Recovery Department (活动测控回收部){{Cite web |date=2007-10-23 |title=你身边有多少"太空文明" |url=http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2007-10-23/132412773741s.shtml |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005115427/http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2007-10-23/132412773741s.shtml |archivedate=2016-10-05 |accessdate=2016-10-04 |publisher=新浪 |url-status=live}}
First Operations TT&C Station (第一活动测控站)张国云、徐川、李强，星锁异常分析方法及处置策略，飞行器测控学报2012, 31(1):11-14
Second Operations TT&C Station (第二活动测控站){{Cite web |title=西安卫星测控中心严密监视神七状况，新浪，2008-09-26 |url=http://news.sina.com.cn/o/2008-09-26/001314500348s.shtml |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005112911/http://news.sina.com.cn/o/2008-09-26/001314500348s.shtml |archivedate=2016-10-05 |accessdate=2016-10-04 |url-status=live}}
Landing Site Station (着陆场站){{Cite web |title=胡锦涛签署命令授予"功勋着陆场站"荣誉称号，人民网，2005-01-26 |url=http://scitech.people.com.cn/GB/25509/55912/83184/83188/5713281.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220081915/http://scitech.people.com.cn/GB/25509/55912/83184/83188/5713281.html |archivedate=2017-02-20 |accessdate=2016-10-04 |url-status=live}}
Kashgar TT&C Station (喀什测控站) established 1970{{Cite web |date=2008-04-24 |title=海南三亚航天测控站投入使用我国航天测控网实现"大三角"布局 |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-04/24/content_8045217.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220102027/http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-04/24/content_8045217.htm |archivedate=2017-02-20 |accessdate=2016-10-04 |publisher=新华网 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |date=2002-06-11 |title=中国航天"第一站"记总装某基地喀什测控站 |url=http://news.sohu.com/76/79/news201437976.shtml |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005145919/http://news.sohu.com/76/79/news201437976.shtml |archivedate=2016-10-05 |accessdate=2016-10-04 |publisher=搜狐 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |date=2016-02-17 |title="别怕，把手给我！"——战略支援部队驻喀什某部战士勇救落水群众受赞誉 |url=http://www.mod.gov.cn/edu/2016-02/17/content_4641893.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009121002/http://www.mod.gov.cn/edu/2016-02/17/content_4641893.htm |archivedate=2016-10-09 |accessdate=2016-10-06 |publisher=中华人民共和国国防部 |url-status=live}}
Jiamusi TT&C Station 佳木斯测控站（2007年投入使用）夏双志、徐秀成、郭肃丽、耿虎军，基于交替迭代的深空天线阵布局优化算法，载人航天2015年05期
Sanya TT&C Station (三亚测控站)（2008年投入使用）我国航天测控网实现“大三角”布局，解放军报，2008-04-26
Changchun TT&C Station (长春测控站)
Western Fujian TT&C Station (闽西测控站)
Xiamen TT&C Station (厦门测控站)
Weinan TT&C Station (渭南测控站{{Cite web|title=Lou Qinjian visits and comforts a unit of the Strategic Support Force stationed in Shaanxi|url=http://www.weinan.gov.cn/news/zwyw/525891.htm|accessdate=2016-10-06|date=2016-07-30|publisher=Weinan Municipal People's Government|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009132250/http://www.weinan.gov.cn/news/zwyw/525891.htm|archivedate=2016-10-09|url-status=dead}}
Nanning TT&C Station (南宁测控站)
Qingdao TT&C Station (青岛测控站)
Swakopmund Monitoring and Control Station (纳米比亚测控站){{Cite web |date=2003-11-18 |title=基台"建交"警示中国海外航天测控站安全 |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2003-11/18/content_1184756.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107022536/http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2003-11/18/content_1184756.htm |archivedate=2016-11-07 |accessdate=2016-10-04 |publisher=新华网 |url-status=live}}
Karachi TT&C Station (卡拉奇测控站)
Malindi TT&C Station (马林迪测控站)
Neuquén Far Space Station ({{Cite web |last=Jr |first=Matthew P. Funaiole, Dana Kim, Brian Hart, Joseph S. Bermudez |title=Eyes on the Skies: China's Growing Space Footprint in South America |url=https://features.csis.org/hiddenreach/china-ground-stations-space |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=features.csis.org |language=en}}
El Sombrero TT&C Station
Amachuma TT&C Station{{Cite web |date=2024-05-08 |title=Cooperación espacial China-América Latina – Actualización |url=https://revanellis.com/spanish-2.html |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=R. Evan Ellis, Phd |language=en}}
Lingshui Station (陵水测控站)
Menghai Station (勐海测控站)
Western Hunan Station (湘西站)
Zhanyi Station (沾益测控站)
Central Communication Station (通信总站){{Cite web |date=2005-10-25 |title=神六浸透着三秦儿女心血 |url=http://news.qq.com/a/20051025/000722.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005151857/http://news.qq.com/a/20051025/000722.htm |archivedate=2016-10-05 |accessdate=2016-10-04 |publisher=腾讯 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |date=2016-09-26 |title=战略支援部队某部女兵班参与春蕾计划献爱心 |url=http://military.china.com/news/568/20160926/23645676.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009130538/http://military.china.com/news/568/20160926/23645676.html |archivedate=2016-10-09 |accessdate=2016-10-06 |publisher=中华网 |url-status=live}}
Satellite Monitoring and Control Science and Engineering Museum, located within the Xi'an center's compound. Contains various exhibitions and models of satellites, and allows the public to see the control chamber in operation.{{Cite web |date=2013-06-25 |title=西安卫星测控中心 |url=http://top.weinan.gov.cn/cjzd/kpxc/kpjg/265312.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005112501/http://top.weinan.gov.cn/cjzd/kpxc/kpjg/265312.htm |archivedate=2016-10-05 |accessdate=2016-10-04 |publisher=中国渭南 |url-status=live}}
The Satellite TT&C Equipment Museum (航天测控装备博物馆) in Qiaonan Town, Weinan City, Shanxi Province. Opened in 2010.Huang Xianghong, Treasures are speechless, green mountains are evidence. A brief account of the construction of the China Aerospace Measurement and Control Equipment Museum, Excalibur 2010 No. 4

The Changchun Satellite Tracking & Control Station ({{Zh|s=长春测控站|p=Zhǎngchūn Cèkòng Zhàn}}), located outside of Changchun, Jilin Province, was established in 1968 and operates with the Military Unit Cover Designator (MUCD) Unit 63759. Outfitted with 154-IIB monopulse radar, may be a part of the Chinese Deep Space Network under the Jiamusi Satellite Tracking & Control Station.

The Kashgar Station, MUCD 63783, in the west of Xinjiang Autonomous Region was established in 1968 under Base 26 until Xi Jinping's 2016 military reforms when the organization was moved under the newly created PLASSF.

The Lingshui Control Station on Hainan was established in April 2008 and finds itself responsible for the tracking of Shijian satellites. A 40 meter radome was built in 2012.

Xi'an Satellite Control Center

History

Organization

See also

References

Further reading