Recent Activity
Multiple BeiDou-3 and Chinasat GEO launches through 2024–2025; Long March 3B cadence steady at 8–12 GTO flights/year.
Investor Brief
China's GEO workhorse pad; deployed the entire 35-satellite BeiDou navigation constellation (China's GPS analog). Long March 3-family near-monopoly on Chinese GTO comms launches. Continues as backup lunar pad behind Wenchang.
Ownership
Parent Entity
Regulatory Regime
Anchor Tenants
Latitude Advantage
Launch Azimuth Range
Country
🇨🇳China
Region
Asia
Established
1,984
Launches / Year
1,015
Years Active
42
Strategic Position
28.2463° N, 102.0264° E
Azimuth: 94°–105° (GTO, GEO, lunar transfer)
28.25°N — comparable to Cape Canaveral (28.5°N); ~17% GTO performance bonus vs. Baikonur, well-suited for GEO comms satellites
Future Milestones
- 2026
BeiDou-3 backup and on-orbit refresh launches
- 2027
Continued Chinasat / commercial GEO comms cadence
About
Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province is China's primary launch site for geostationary orbit missions. Its relatively low latitude of 28 degrees North makes it well-suited for GTO launches. It has been instrumental in deploying the BeiDou navigation constellation and numerous communications satellites.
Key Features
China's primary site for geostationary orbit launches
28 degrees North latitude — favorable for GEO/GTO missions
Home base for BeiDou navigation satellite constellation deployment
Supports Long March 3B/3C heavy-lift GTO missions
Mountain valley location provides natural protection
Rockets That Launch Here
Companies Operating Here
Orbit Types
Notable Launches
BeiDou navigation constellation (2000-2020) — 50+ satellites deployed
Chang'e 1 (2007) — China's first lunar orbiter
Chang'e 3 (2013) — China's first lunar lander and Yutu rover
Fengyun weather satellite series launches
Multiple international commercial GEO satellite launches
Upcoming Launches From This Site
Next missions scheduled to fly from Xichang Satellite Launch Center
- Provider
- China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
- Rocket
- Long March 3B/E
- NET
- Pad
- Launch Complex 2 (LC-2)
Recent Launches From This Site
Most recent missions flown from Xichang Satellite Launch Center
- Long March 3B/E | Tiantong-1-03China Aerospace Science and Technology CorporationSuccess
- Long March 3B | TJSW-6China Aerospace Science and Technology CorporationSuccess
- Long March 2C | Yaogan-30-08China Aerospace Science and Technology CorporationSuccess
- Long March 3B | Fengyun-4BChina Aerospace Science and Technology CorporationSuccess
- Long March 2C | Yaogan-30-09China Aerospace Science and Technology CorporationSuccess
- Long March 3C/E | Tianlian 1-05China Aerospace Science and Technology CorporationSuccess