Xichang Satellite Launch Center
The launch of Long March 3B Rocket, Xichang Satellite Launch Center, China. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interactive map of Xichang Satellite Launch Center | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Xichang, Liangshan, Sichuan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Coordinates | 28°14′44″N 102°1′36″E / 28.24556°N 102.02667°E | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Short name | XSLC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator | CASC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total launches | 238 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch pad | Three | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Xichang Satellite Launch Center | |||||||
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| Simplified Chinese | 西昌卫星发射中心 | ||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 西昌衛星發射中心 | ||||||
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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.