physics

Xichang Satellite Launch Center

Xichang Satellite Launch Center is a physics topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Xichang Satellite Launch Center rather than just read about it. In short: The Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC), also known as the Xichang Space Center, is a spaceport in China. It is located in Zeyuan town (泽远镇), Mianning county, approximately 64 kilometers (40 mi) northwest of Xichang, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan.

Key takeaways

Xichang Satellite Launch Center belongs to physics; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Xichang Satellite Launch Center to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Xichang Satellite Launch Center from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC), also known as the Xichang Space Center, is a spaceport in China. It is located in Zeyuan town (泽远镇), Mianning county, approximately 64 kilometers (40 mi) northwest of Xichang, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan. It is operated by the People's Liberation Army Aerospace Force (formerly the People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force) and is known as the 27th Experimental Training base (MUCD: Unit 63790). The facility became operational in 1984 and is used to launch numerous civil, scientific, and military payloads annually. It is notable as the site of Sino-European space cooperation, with the launch of the first of two Double Star scientific satellites in December 2003. Chinese officials have indicated interest in conducting additional international satellite launches from XSLC. In 1996, a fatal accident occurred when the Long March 3B rocket carrying the Intelsat 708 satellite failed on its maiden launch from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, killing at least 6 people in a nearby rural village. Uncontrolled debris from launches continues to fall in the vicinity, most recently in December 2023 and June 2024. A 2007 test of an anti-satellite missile was launched from the center.

History

China's first crewed space program In order to support the Chinese Project 714 crewed space program in the 1960s, the construction of a new space center at Xichang in the Sichuan province was decided, located farther from the Soviet border, thus safer. This construction was part of the Third Front campaign to develop basic industry and national security industry in the rugged interior of China to prepare for potential United States or Soviet Union invasion. The Shuguang One spacecraft was expected to be launched from the launch pad number one. After the cancellation of the program, the launch pad was never completed. Today, a viewing platform for officials has been built at the site.

First Long March-2E carrier rocket China launched its first Long March-2E carrier rocket on July 16, 1990, sending into orbit Pakistan's first indigenously developed Badr-1 satellite and HS-601.

1996 Launch accident

On February 15, 1996, a fatal accident occurred when the first new Long March 3B heavy carrier rocket carrying Intelsat 708 veered off course 2 seconds after launch, crashing 1200 meters away from the launch pad into a hillside, destroying 80 homes in a nearby mountain village. According to the official report, six people died and 57 were injured. The number of civilian deaths has been disputed, with estimates of the number of casualties as around a few hundred. The village that was damaged in this accident later got demolished.

China's first successful ASAT test

On January 11, 2007, China conducted an anti-satellite missile test with an SC-19 ASAT weapon. A Chinese weather satellite — the FY-1C polar orbit satellite of the Fengyun series, at an altitude of 865 kilometers (537 mi), with a mass of 750 kg — was destroyed by a kinetic kill vehicle. The SC-19 has been described as being based on a modified DF-21 ballistic missile or its commercial derivative, the KT-2 with a Kinetic Kill Vehicle and is fully mobile.

Beginning of China's lunar exploration program On October 24, 2007, Chang'e 1, an un-crewed Moon orbiter of the Chang'e program, was successfully launched from the facility, marking the beginning of China's lunar exploration program.

First Long March-3C carrier rocket China launched its first Long March-3C carrier rocket on April 25, 2008. This was the 105th mission of China's Long March series of rockets, and also the launch of the nation's first data relay satellite (数据中继卫星) Tianlian I (天链一号). A new launch pad for next-generation rockets (such as Long March 8) is currently under construction, as of December 2019.

Facilities

Launch Complexes Three launch complexes were planned, and two were built: Launch Complex 1 (LC-1), not built, was intended as the Shuguang launch site, later used as a viewing area. Launch Complex 2 (LC-2 or LA-2), located at 28.2455°N 102.0267°E / 28.2455; 102.0267 (Launch Complex 2 (LC-2 or LA-2)), and used for launching Long March 2E, Long March 3A, Long March 3B and Long March 3C rockets. Launch Complex 3 (LC-3 or LA-3), also known as LA-1, and located at 28.2470°N 102.0291°E / 28.2470; 102.0291 (Launch Complex 3 (LC-3 or LA-3)). Used for launching Long March 2C, Long March 3, Long March 3A and Long March 3B rockets. Demolished and rebuilt between 2005 and 2006. Upgraded in order to support the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program. Demolished and rebuilt again between 2013 and 2015. Mobile Launcher Pad, is used by CASIC's Kuaizhou-1A rocket to launch from Xichang.

Technical Center

XSLC's Technical Center is equipped for testing and integration of the payload and launch vehicle. Its Mission Command and Control Center is located 7 kilometers (4.3 mi) southwest of the launch pads, and provides flight and safety control during overall system rehearsal and launch. It is serviced by a dedicated railway and highway directly from Xichang Qingshan Airport and Manshuiwan railway station, which is about 50 kilometers (31 mi) away from the launch site. Two launch complexes at the facility support flight operations.

Residential Area The Residential Area of XSLC was built to house workers of the launch center, and consists of:

"Coordination building" (Residential complex with an office and dormitories for Chinese employees of XSLC) Hotel for foreign workers (Located right next to the Coordination building) Logistics facilities, Cooperation Building, hospital Space park The Residential area is located right next to the main gate of the launch center, and is connected to other facilities by a highway and railroad. On February 15, 1996, The Long March 3B carrying Intelsat 708 crashed into a hillside in front of the Coordination Building and right next to the main gate of the launch center. Located right next to the main gate of the launch center was Mayelin Village (not to be confused with Mayelin), which has disappeared following the Intelsat 708 disaster. Several villages and small towns, such as Mayelin, still exist near XSLC.

Launches

Previous launches

Recent launches

Upcoming launches

Illustrations

Xichang Satellite Launch Center: Xichang Satellite Launch Center launch complexes — Xichang Satellite Launch Center launch complexes

Xichang Satellite Launch Center: Hotel for foreign engineers — Hotel for foreign engineers

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Xichang Satellite Launch Center

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Xichang Satellite Launch Center claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In physics, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Xichang Satellite Launch Center before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Xichang Satellite Launch Center ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Xichang Satellite Launch Center

In research: Xichang Satellite Launch Center appears in physics research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Xichang Satellite Launch Center in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Xichang Satellite Launch Center is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics BeiDou, Buildings and structures in Sichuan, Corps grade units of the armed forces of China, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Xichang Satellite Launch Center outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

Ask Teacher Smith questions about this articleOpens your AI tutor with a question about “Xichang Satellite Launch Center” →

Affiliate

Preply — study more efficiently by working with a personal tutor. 50% off.

How to study Xichang Satellite Launch Center in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Xichang Satellite Launch Center means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Xichang Satellite Launch Center out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Xichang Satellite Launch Center in simple terms?

Why does Xichang Satellite Launch Center matter?

Because it connects several physics ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Xichang Satellite Launch Center?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Xichang Satellite Launch Center.