Wenchang International Aerospace City is accelerating efforts to establish a commercial launch site and rocket assembly plants, according to news.sciencenet.cn.
The plan aims to put infrastructure in place to allow regular commercial launches by 2024.
The commercial area seeks to attract space start-ups and will include rocket and satellite assembly and testing plants as well as satellite data application centres.
China’s main space contractor, CASC, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and other state-entities, as well as commercial launch companies iSpace and Deep Blue Aerospace, have already signed contracts to establish a presence in the city.
Since opening in 2014 Wenchang has hosted 16 launches, including a space station module and cargo missions, a lunar sample return, and the country’s first interplanetary expedition, Tianwen-1.
Wenchang also facilitates launches of the Long March 8 rocket for commercial rideshares, and the Long March 7A.
Wenchang, which is also part of the Hainan Free Trade Port, hosted China’s seventh national “space day” on April 24.
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