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Jiquan Satellite Launch Center
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Photo: Wikimedia
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The Jiquan Satellite Launch Center which is also known as Shuang Cheng Tze launch center was China's first launch facility being established in 1958. It is located in the Gobi Desert about 1,600 Kilometers from Beijing.
The Center includes a large amount of facilities including two launch complexes, a technical center and a Mission Command and Control Centre/Launch Control Center as well as Ground Support Equipment needed for rocket launches such as propellant systems, tracking assets, weather forecast equipment and logistic support facilities. Initially, Jiquan was used for satellite launches into Low Earth Orbit with high inclinations. Currently, its only active launch site is Launch Area 4 featuring two SLS - South Launch Site - Launch Pads. SLS-1 is used to support the manned space program while the SLS-2 site is used for satellite launches. SLS-1 was built in the late 1990s. A technical center is located close to the site. It includes the launch vehicle processing and vertical assembly building, spacecraft processing facilities, buildings for solid rocket motor processing as well as propellant storage facilities and the Launch Control Center. |
Orbital flights from Jiquan are controlled by the Mission Command and Control Center about 60 km southwest of the satellite launch center.
The Launch Tower of SLS-1 is a 75-meter steel structure that provides launch vehicle service capabilities by means of access platforms and electricity, gas and fluid umbilicals. The six rotating access platforms are placed around the vehicle once it reaches the launch pad. These platforms are needed for vehicle fueling and close-outs. They are retracted about one hour prior to launch. A total of four swing arms are used to provide launch vehicle umbilical connections. These are retracted several minutes before blastoff. It also provides facilities for crew ingress and emergency egress procedures. A canvas slide escaping system can be used by Taikonauts in the event of an emergency situation to rapidly exit the launch pad. The tower features a loading crane and two elevators - one for cargo and a blast-proof elevator for personnel and the flight crew.
The Long March Rocket is transported from its Integration Facility to the Launch Site atop a mobile launch platform riding on rail tracks. The stack needs about 60 minutes for the 1.5-Kilometer trip to the pad. The massive mobile launcher is 24.4 meters in length, has a width of 21.7 meters and a mass of 750,000 Kilograms. The base of the Rocket is secured atop the platform 8.3 meters above ground level.
The Launch Tower of SLS-1 is a 75-meter steel structure that provides launch vehicle service capabilities by means of access platforms and electricity, gas and fluid umbilicals. The six rotating access platforms are placed around the vehicle once it reaches the launch pad. These platforms are needed for vehicle fueling and close-outs. They are retracted about one hour prior to launch. A total of four swing arms are used to provide launch vehicle umbilical connections. These are retracted several minutes before blastoff. It also provides facilities for crew ingress and emergency egress procedures. A canvas slide escaping system can be used by Taikonauts in the event of an emergency situation to rapidly exit the launch pad. The tower features a loading crane and two elevators - one for cargo and a blast-proof elevator for personnel and the flight crew.
The Long March Rocket is transported from its Integration Facility to the Launch Site atop a mobile launch platform riding on rail tracks. The stack needs about 60 minutes for the 1.5-Kilometer trip to the pad. The massive mobile launcher is 24.4 meters in length, has a width of 21.7 meters and a mass of 750,000 Kilograms. The base of the Rocket is secured atop the platform 8.3 meters above ground level.
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