CNSA / PLA Strategic Support Force · Inner Mongolia, China, China
Launch Pads
4 active (SLS-1, SLS-2 Long March 2C/4; LC-43 crewed Shenzhou; LC-43/921 Long March 2F)as of [1]Annual Launches
~20as of [1]Max Payload (LEO)
8,500 kg to LEO (Long March 2F)as of [1]Established
1958
Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center is China's oldest and most historically significant space launch facility. Located in the Gobi Desert of Inner Mongolia, it is the primary site for China's crewed space missions, including all Shenzhou flights to the Tiangong space station. It also supports a range of LEO and SSO satellite launches.
| Region | Asia |
| Country | 🇨🇳 China |
| Coordinates | 40.9605° N, 100.2915° E |
| Ownership | Military |
| Parent Entity | PLA Strategic Support Force / CASC (China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation) |
| Regulatory Regime | Chinese State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence (SASTIND) |
| Latitude Advantage | 40.96°N — high-latitude site; preferred for crewed Shenzhou (42° inclination) and SSO missions, not GTO |
| Azimuth Range | 94°–105° (LEO, SSO, crewed); polar via dogleg |
| Human Spaceflight | Active crewed launches |
Anchor Tenants
Active Users
Strategic Value
Only Chinese site currently certified for crewed flight; the entire Tiangong space station rotation cadence depends on Jiuquan. Also the de facto incubator pad for China's private orbital launch sector — Hyperbola-1, Ceres-1, Kinetica-1 all debuted here.
Recent Activity
Shenzhou-19 crew launch October 2024; Shenzhou-20 launched April 2025; commercial cadence (Ceres-1, Kinetica-1) accelerating through 2025–2026.
2026
Tiangong expansion modules and Shenzhou-21/22 rotations
2027
Tiangong second-phase expansion (additional lab module)
2030
Long March 10 crewed lunar test flights (split with Wenchang)