Xichang Satellite Launch Center

In order to support the Chinese Project 714 crewed space program in the 1960s, the construction of a new space center at Xichang in the Sichuan province was decided, located farther from the Soviet border, thus safer. This construction was part of the Third Front campaign to develop basic industry and national security industry in the rugged interior of China to prepare for potential United States or Soviet Union invasion.{{Cite book |last=Meyskens |first=Covell F. |url= |title=Mao's Third Front: The Militarization of Cold War China |date=2020 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-108-78478-8 |location=Cambridge, United Kingdom |pages=4, 218 |doi=10.1017/9781108784788 |oclc=1145096137 |s2cid=218936313}}

The Shuguang One spacecraft was expected to be launched from the launch pad number one. After the cancellation of the program, the launch pad was never completed. Today, a viewing platform for officials has been built at the site.{{cite web |date=October 22, 2007 |title=百人大厅静得能听见掉下一根针 |language=zh |publisher=Shanghai Morning Post |url=http://www.jfdaily.com/gb/jfxww/xlbk/xwcb/node32994/node32995/userobject1ai1819186.html |access-date=2007-11-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110809113137/http://www.jfdaily.com/gb/jfxww/xlbk/xwcb/node32994/node32995/userobject1ai1819186.html |archive-date=August 9, 2011}}

China launched its first Long March-2E carrier rocket on July 16, 1990, sending into orbit Pakistan's first indigenously developed Badr-1 satellite and HS-601.

{{Main article|Intelsat 708}}

On February 15, 1996, a fatal accident occurred when the first new Long March 3B heavy carrier rocket carrying Intelsat 708 veered off course 2 seconds after launch, crashing 1200 meters away from the launch pad into a hillside, destroying 80 homes in a nearby mountain village. According to the official report, six people died and 57 were injured.{{cite web |date=September 15, 2007 |title=96年火箭发射失控爆炸全过程 |language=zh |publisher=大旗网 |url=http://shizheng.daqi.com/editor/slide/ent_slide/964237/25.html#t |access-date=June 13, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715150027/http://shizheng.daqi.com/editor/slide/ent_slide/964237/25.html%23t |archive-date=July 15, 2012}} The number of civilian deaths has been disputed, with estimates of the number of casualties as around a few hundred.{{cite web |last=Zak |first=Anatoly |date=February 2013 |title=Disaster at Xichang |work=Air & Space Magazine |url=http://www.airspacemag.com/history-of-flight/Disaster-at-Xichang-187496561.html |access-date=2013-04-21 |archive-date=April 23, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130423023644/http://www.airspacemag.com/history-of-flight/Disaster-at-Xichang-187496561.html |url-status=live }} (Article on the crash of a rocket carrying a commercial payload on February 15, 1996){{Cite web|url=http://www.thespacereview.com/article/2323/1|title=The Space Review: Mist around the CZ-3B disaster (Part 1)|access-date=September 23, 2019|archive-date=December 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201035826/http://www.thespacereview.com/article/2323/1|url-status=live}} The village that was damaged in this accident later got demolished.

{{main|2007 Chinese anti-satellite missile test}}

On January 11, 2007, China conducted an anti-satellite missile test with an SC-19 ASAT weapon.

A Chinese weather satellite — the FY-1C polar orbit satellite of the Fengyun series, at an altitude of {{convert|865|km|mi|sp=us}}, with a mass of 750 kg — was destroyed by a kinetic kill vehicle.

The SC-19 has been described as being based on a modified DF-21 ballistic missile or its commercial derivative, the KT-2 with a Kinetic Kill Vehicle and is fully mobile.

On October 24, 2007, Chang'e 1, an un-crewed Moon orbiter of the Chang'e program, was successfully launched from the facility, marking the beginning of China's lunar exploration program.{{cite web |date=October 24, 2007 |title=China's 1st moon orbiter enters Earth orbit |publisher=Xinhua News Agency

|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-10/24/content_6937622.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025235924/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-10/24/content_6937622.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 25, 2007 |access-date=2007-10-24}}

China launched its first Long March-3C carrier rocket on April 25, 2008. This was the 105th mission of China's Long March series of rockets, and also the launch of the nation's first data relay satellite (数据中继卫星) Tianlian I (天链一号).{{cite web |date=April 26, 2008 |title=我国首颗中继卫星发射成功 将测控神七飞行 |language=zh |publisher=人民网 |url=http://scitech.people.com.cn/GB/7170743.html |access-date=April 27, 2008 |archive-date=June 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610041047/http://scitech.people.com.cn/GB/7170743.html |url-status=dead }}

A new launch pad for next-generation rockets (such as Long March 8) is currently under construction, as of December 2019.{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |date=December 20, 2019 |title=China creates commercial space alliance, expands launch complex |work=SpaceNews |url=https://spacenews.com/china-creates-commercial-space-alliance-expands-launch-complex/ |access-date=December 20, 2019}}

File:Xichang launch center 4.jpg

File:Xichang2 launch center.gif

File:XSLC Techinal Center Map.jpg

File:Xichang launch center 1.jpg

Three launch complexes were planned, and two were built:

Launch Complex 1 (LC-1), not built, was intended as the Shuguang launch site, later used as a viewing area.{{cite web |title=Xichang Satellite Launch Centre |publisher=SinoDefence.com |url=http://www.sinodefence.com/space/facility/xichang.asp |access-date=March 7, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103005532/http://sinodefence.com/space/facility/xichang.asp |archive-date=January 3, 2010}}

Launch Complex 2 (LC-2 or LA-2), located at {{Coord|28.24550|102.02678|name=Launch Complex 2 (LC-2 or LA-2)}}, and used for launching Long March 2E, Long March 3A, Long March 3B{{cite web |date=2008-06-09 |title=China launches French-built satellite |publisher=Xinhua News Agency |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/09/content_8334551.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080613031839/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/09/content_8334551.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 13, 2008}}{{cite web |title=Long March 3B rocket launches Chinasat-9 satellite |publisher=Mister-Info.com |url=http://www.mister-info.com/?cmd=displaystory&story_id=10817 |access-date=June 9, 2008 |archive-date=July 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714102209/http://www.mister-info.com/?cmd=displaystory&story_id=10817 |url-status=live }} and Long March 3C rockets.

Launch Complex 3 (LC-3 or LA-3), also known as LA-1, and located at {{Coord|28.2471400|102.0291100|name=Launch Complex 3 (LC-3 or LA-3)}}. Used for launching Long March 2C, Long March 3, Long March 3A and Long March 3B rockets. Demolished and rebuilt between 2005 and 2006. Upgraded in order to support the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program.{{cite web |date=September 19, 2006 |title=西昌卫星发射中心重建发射塔为登月作准备 |language=zh |publisher=人民网 |url=http://scitech.people.com.cn/GB/4720530.html |access-date=June 11, 2008 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303184355/http://scitech.people.com.cn/GB/4720530.html |url-status=dead }} Demolished and rebuilt again between 2013 and 2015.{{Failed verification|date=March 2010}}

Mobile Launcher Pad, is used by CASIC's Kuaizhou-1A rocket to launch from Xichang.

File:Xichang launch center map.gif

XSLC's Technical Center is equipped for testing and integration of the payload and launch vehicle. Its Mission Command and Control Center is located {{convert|7|km|mi|sp=us}} southwest of the launch pads, and provides flight and safety control during overall system rehearsal and launch. It is serviced by a dedicated railway and highway directly from Xichang Qingshan Airport and Manshuiwan railway station, which is about {{convert|50|km|mi|sp=us}} away from the launch site. Two launch complexes at the facility support flight operations.[http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/world/china/xichang.htm Profile of Xichang Satellite Launch Center] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201122221/http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/world/china/xichang.htm |date=February 1, 2021 }}, GlobalSecurity.org.

The Residential Area of XSLC was built to house workers of the launch center, and consists of:

• "Coordination building" (Residential complex with an office and dormitories for Chinese employees of XSLC)
• Hotel for foreign workers (Located right next to the Coordination building)
• Logistics facilities, Cooperation Building, hospital{{Cite web |title=The Space Review: Mist around the CZ-3B disaster (part 2) |url=https://www.thespacereview.com/article/2326/1 |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=www.thespacereview.com}}
• Space park

The Residential area is located right next to the main gate of the launch center, and is connected to other facilities by a highway and railroad.

On the 15th of February of 1996, The Long March 3B carrying Intelsat 708 crashed into a hillside infront of the Coordination Building and right next to the main gate of the launch center.

Located right next to the main gate of the launch center was Mayelin Village (not to be confused with Mayelin), which has disappeared following the Intelsat 708 disaster. Several villages and small towns, such as Mayelin, still exist near XSLC.

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{{commons category|Xichang Satellite Launch Center}}

• Aerial Maps from [https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=28.246744,102.026736&spn=0.005,0.005&t=k&q=28.246744,102.026736 Google Maps]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV-Pz7sisGk Xichang: An important base for China's space dream] - YouTube, 2019
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfSXklBxvHY Xichang Space Launch Center] - YouTube, 2014

{{Coord|28|14|45.66|N|102|1|35.60|E|type:landmark|display=title}}

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