Wenchang, a city in Hainan province, is all set to become a hub for commercial spacecraft launches. The nation’s first such site is currently in the critical development stage, aiming to commence regular commercial operations next year. The announcement was made at the 2023 Wenchang International Aviation and Aerospace Forum. Liu Chong, Mayor of Wenchang and Director of the Wenchang International Aerospace City Administration, said that major establishments, including the rocket assembly plant and the satellite assembly and testing plant, are expected to be completed or become operational by the end of this year. The main structure of the satellite research and development center has been topped out, and the satellite remote sensing platform will be ready next July, Liu added. The city also plans to accelerate the construction of its rocket industrial park and satellite and rocket super factory. The construction of a public platform for scientific and technological innovation will be expedited to provide strong support for commercial launch missions next year, Liu said.
The developments have already begun to show economic benefits. From January to October, Wenchang witnessed substantial growth in income, tax revenue and fixed asset investment. A CNY10 billion industrial fund has been launched and a signing ceremony for major projects in the city was held on November 26. The fund will be used for aerospace, new energy, digital economy and other industrial development projects. The city has reached cooperation agreements on 26 key industrial projects with aerospace institutions and enterprises, with a total investment of CNY4.6 billion, covering core fields such as rocket, satellite and data chains, as well as science and innovation, capital and service chains.
According to Mayor Liu Chong, the city seeks to attract high-end talent and promote the aerospace industry with the aid of supportive industrial policies. Wenchang has been introducing and adjusting relevant industrial support policies to encourage aerospace enterprises to gather in the city and seek high-end talent. Kang Yonglai, Founder of Tianbing Aerospace Technology Co, said that with large commercial spacecraft launches, Wenchang’s advantages as a low-latitude coastal launch site will be more obvious. “The city can become a manufacturing and launch base for large carrier rockets. Spacecraft can be launched from both land and sea,” he said, as reported by the China Daily.
