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Over 70 licensed launch facilities now operate globally — 20 commissioned since 2020.
| Attribute | Wenchang Commercial Launch Site 🇨🇳 China Active · Last updated 2026-06-12Trust: Operator-primaryⓘ Last verified Remove × | Vandenberg Space Force Base 🇺🇸 United States Active · Last updated 2026-06-12Trust: Agency-primaryⓘ Last verified Remove × |
|---|---|---|
| Operator | Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Center | United States Space Force |
| Ownership | State Enterprise | Military |
| Region | 🇨🇳 China | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Launch pads | — | 3 active (SLC-4E Falcon 9, SLC-6 SpaceX conversion, SLC-2W Firefly)as of [3] ↑ Most pads |
| Annual launches | 8+ orbital missions in 2025as of [1]First launch 2024-11-30 (Long March 12 maiden flight, Pad 2); Phase II adds two more pads | ~82 projected for 2026 (DAF cap raised to 100/yr)as of [3]Department of the Air Force May 2025 draft EIS approved up to 100 Falcon launches/year incl. SLC-6; primarily polar/SSO, predominantly SpaceX ↑ Most active |
| Max payload (LEO) | — | 15,600 kg to polar orbit (Falcon 9 Block 5)as of [2] ↑ Highest capacity |
| First operational launch | 2024-11-30as of [1]Maiden Long March 12 from Pad 2 — first launch from China's first commercial spaceport | 1958-12-16as of [1]Thor-Able 1 — first orbital attempt from Vandenberg (failed); first success 1959-02-28 |
| Regulatory regime | Chinese State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence (SASTIND); Hainan Free Trade Port commercial-launch licensing pilot | U.S. Space Force Western Range + FAA-AST Part 450 for commercial users |
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