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Over 70 licensed launch facilities now operate globally — 20 commissioned since 2020.
| Attribute | Palmachim Airbase 🇮🇱 Israel Active · Last updated 2026-06-01Trust: Operator-primaryⓘ Last verified Remove × | Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center 🇨🇳 China Active · Last updated 2026-06-01Trust: Agency-primaryⓘ Last verified Remove × | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | Israel Defense Forces / Israel Aerospace Industries | ISC Kosmotras (defunct) / Russian Strategic Rocket Forces | CNSA / PLA Strategic Support Force |
| Ownership | Military | Military | Military |
| Region | 🇮🇱 Israel | 🇷🇺 Russia | 🇨🇳 China |
| Launch pads | 1 active (classified IAF facility)as of [1] | — | 4 active (SLS-1, SLS-2 Long March 2C/4; LC-43 crewed Shenzhou; LC-43/921 Long March 2F)as of [1] ↑ Most pads |
| Annual launches | 1–2as of [1] | 0 | ~20as of [1] |
| Max payload (LEO) | ~350 kg to retrograde LEO (Shavit-2)as of [1]Launches westward over Mediterranean due to geopolitical overflight constraints; unusual retrograde orbit | — | 8,500 kg to LEO (Long March 2F)as of [1] ↑ Highest capacity |
| First operational launch | 1988-09-19as of [2]Ofeq-1 — Israel's first satellite; first nation ever to launch into retrograde orbit from a dedicated national site | 1999 | 1970-04-24as of [1]Dong Fang Hong 1 — China's first satellite; first orbital launch from Jiuquan |
| Regulatory regime | Israel Space Agency (ISA) civil oversight; Ministry of Defense controls dual-use launches and Ofeq reconnaissance program | Russian Ministry of Defence + Roscosmos; commercial operations ceased after Russia-Ukraine cooperation collapse 2014/2022 | Chinese State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence (SASTIND) |
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