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Over 70 licensed launch facilities now operate globally — 20 commissioned since 2020.
| Attribute | Xichang Satellite Launch Center 🇨🇳 China Active · Last updated 2026-06-01Trust: Agency-primaryⓘ Last verified Remove × | Starbase Boca Chica 🇺🇸 United States Active · Last updated 2026-06-01Trust: Operator-primaryⓘ Last verified Remove × |
|---|---|---|
| Operator | CNSA / PLA Strategic Support Force | SpaceX |
| Ownership | Military | Private |
| Region | 🇨🇳 China | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Launch pads | 3 active (LC-2, LC-3 Long March 3A/3B/3C; LC-4 Long March 3B upgrades)as of [1] ↑ Most pads | 1 (Orbital Launch Mount A); second pad under constructionas of [1] |
| Annual launches | ~15as of [1] | 6–8 IFTs (2025 rate target)as of [2]IFT-1 through IFT-7 conducted 2023–2025; production cadence increasing ↑ Most active |
| Max payload (LEO) | 11,500 kg to GTO (Long March 3B/E)as of [1] ↑ Highest capacity | 100,000+ kg to LEO (Starship target, fully reusable)as of [1]150,000 kg expendable; fully reusable figure TBC pending HLS missions |
| First operational launch | 1984-01-29as of [1]China's first GTO orbital launch; first commercial GEO satellite (AsiaSat-1) 1990 | 2023-04-20as of [1]Starship IFT-1 — first integrated flight test; vehicle lost at stage separation |
| Regulatory regime | Chinese State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence (SASTIND) | FAA-AST Part 450 vehicle operator license + site-specific Environmental Assessment / PEA |
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