China’s Orbital Launch Activity This graphic provides foundational data on China’s orbital launch sites and launch vehicles, as well as on the general structure of China’s state-managed space industry. Orbital Launch Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center Vehicles Currently in 酒泉卫星发射中心 Operation Long March-2C First Launch General Organization of China’s Space Industry 1970 Long March-2D Long March-2F Central Committee of the National People’s Supreme People’s Total Orbital Launches Communist Party of China Congress Court 123 Long March-3A China’s first orbital launch took place Long March-3B/E from this site. Used for government Central Military Commission missions to all orbits and is the only Long March-3C State Council People’s Liberation Army site supporting human spaceflight Long March-4B missions. Long March-4C China Meteorological China Academy of Sciences Long March-5 Administration Long March-6 Long March-7 Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) SASTIND: Regulation and SASAC: Appointment Long March-11 planning of military industrial State Administration for State-owned Assets of senior executives, Others complex. Regulates launch Science, Technology Supervision and management and policy and re-entry activities and Industry for Administration guidance National Defense Commission of the State (SASTIND) Council (SASAC) Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center Estimated$11B CNSA 太原卫星发射中心 Budget in 2018 China National Space China Aerospace Science and China Aerospace Science and 1988 First Launch Administration (CNSA) Industry Corporation (CASIC) Technology Corporation (CASC) CASIC is China’s primary CASC is the primary State Owned Total Orbital Launches manufacturer of missiles and Enterprise responsible for the 80 China Commercial Space related equipment. It is composed development, manufacturing, This site is used primarily to support missions Alliance of 7 academies and hundreds and operation of launch vehicles, to low Earth orbit, especially polar orbits. of subordinate companies and satellites, spacecraft, and other institutions employing nearly space equipment. It employs about 150,000 people. 170,000 people across the country. China Space Foundation To promote greater industrial Key subordinate organizations competition, in 1999 the former include China Academy of Launch The China Space Foundation is a non- China Aerospace Company was Vehicle Technology (CALT) and profit aimed at space education and split into CASIC and CASC, with Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight international cooperation general aerospace and military Technology (SAST), both equipment being the focus of CASIC manufacturers of spacecraft and and space the focus of CASC. Still, launch vehicles; China Great Wall The China Commercial CASIC provides support in the form Industry Corporation (CGWIC), the Space Alliance was of solid motors and spaceflight marketing arm of CASC; and China set up in 2019 to help support systems. Satcom, China’s primary satellite Xichang Satellite Launch Center promote and regulate communications provider. Long March-11 Yellow Sea launch platform the country’s growing 西昌卫星发射中心 private space sector First Launch First Launch 2019 1984 Total Orbital Launches 1 Wenchang 40 138 Total Orbital Launches A converted barge is used to launch Long March-11 vehicles. becomes This launch site is used mainly to support launches operational in 35 to geosynchronous and medium Earth orbits. 2016 with the In 2011, the number successful of Chinese orbital launch of a 30 launches overtakes Wenchang Satellite Launch Center CZ-7 Number of Launches that of the United 文昌航天发射发射中心 States for the first time 25 First Launch Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center 2016 China’s first human 20 Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center 5 Total Orbital Launches spaceflight mission, Wenchang Satellite Launch Center China’s recently inaugurated launch site optimized Shenzhou 5, is Xichang Satellite Launch Center to support the country’s newest and largest launched successfully 15 vehicles capable of accessing a variety of orbits. China’s first Yellow Sea Launch Platform on October 15, 2003 satellite, DFH-I, is 10 launched aboard a CZ-1 from Jiuquan 5 1970 As of December 31, 2019 2019 Medium to Intermediate Vehicles Heavy Vehicles China’s Orbital Launch Vehicles Ceres 1 Provider: Galactic Energy 3,000 to 10,000 kg to LEO 10,000 kg+ to LEO by Capacity Class Manufacturer: Galactic Energy Long March 6 Includes operational vehicles and vehicles with a high probably of entering operations during Launch Site: Jiuquan Provider: CASC Long March 5 the next 2 years. Partial failures counted as failures in reliability calculation. LEO: 350 kg Manufacturer: SAST Long March 7 Estimated Price/kg: $14,000 Launch Site: Taiyuan Provider: CASC Long March 4C Provider: CASC LEO: 1,080 kg Manufacturer: CALT • First launch planned in 2020 Provider: CASC Manufacturer: CALT Launch Site: Wenchang • Also developing Pallas vehicle Estimated Price/kg: Undisclosed Small Vehicles Manufacturer: SAST Launch Site: Wenchang LEO: 25,000 kg (5B) (4,000 to LEO), first launch in 2022 • Developed jointly by CALT and SAST Launch Sites: Jiuquan, Taiyuan LEO: 13,500 kg • Company has raised $43M (2020) GTO: 14,000 kg Less than 3,000 kg to LEO • Introduced in 2015 LEO: 4,200 kg GTO: 5,500 kg (7A) TLI: 8,200 kg and expects to launch Ceres 1 for • 3 launches, 100% reliability first time in 2020 GTO: 1,500 kg Estimated Price/kg: Undisclosed Estimated Price/kg: Undisclosed OS-M • Used primarily for government and Estimated Price/kg: $15,400 Provider: OneSpace Hyperbola university missions and does not appear • Introduced in 2016, inaugurating • Introduced in 2016 Provider: iSpace Technology to be offered commercially • Derived from the Long March 4B, China’s newest launch site on • China’s most powerful launch vehicle Manufacturer: OneSpace featuring a restartable upper stage Hainan Island, Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site: Jiuquan Manufacturer: iSpace Technology • 3 launches, 67% reliability • Introduced in 2007 Launch Site • Resumed operational status in LEO: 205 kg (OS-M1) Launch Site: Wenchang Zhuque 1 Provider: LandSpace • 26 launches, 92% reliability • 2 launches, 100% reliability December 2019 following July 2017 Estimated Price/kg: Undisclosed LEO: 300 kg (Hyperbola 1) • Used to support polar missions • Will replace the Long March 2F as failure Estimated Price/kg: Undisclosed Manufacturer: LandSpace • The 4C variant differs from the primary vehicle for Shenzhou human • Attempted first orbital launch of • At least two variants expected, both Launch Site: Jiuquan 4B in that the former features a spaceflight missions OS-M1 in March 2019, but failed • In July 2019, iSpace became China’s with similar capacities but differ in LEO: 300 kg restartable second stage and a • A second variant, the Long March • Composed of decommissioned first private company to successfully terms of velocity Estimated Price/kg: Undisclosed Long March 11 payload fairing with larger volume 7A, feature a third stage solid motors from retired missiles launch a satellite into orbit using the • Used to support deployment of space Provider: CASC • Marketed commercially by China • Marketed commercially by China • Launched from a mobile platform Hyperbola 1 • Launched for the first time in 2018, but Manufacturer: CALT station modules, next generation Long March 4B Great Wall Industry Corporation Great Wall Industry Corporation human spacecraft, and interplanetary • Other variants planned • Launched from a mobile platform failed to reach orbit Launch Sites: Jiuquan, Provider: CASC probes • Other variants planned • After manufacturer of solid motors Yellow Sea platform, Xichang terminated contract with LandSpace, Manufacturer: SAST LEO: 530 kg company moving on to Zhuque 2 Launch Sites: Jiuquan, Taiyuan Estimated Price/kg: $10,000 (4,000 kg to LEO) LEO: 4,200 kg • LandSpace has raised ~$161M in • Vehicle introduced in 2015 GTO: 1,500 kg New Line 1 investment • 8 launches, 100% reliability Estimated Price/kg: $15,400 Provider: LinkSpace • Launched from mobile land- and Manufacturer: LinkSpace Kuaizhou 1A sea-based platforms • Derived from the retired Long March 4A Launch Sites: Mangnai, Qinghai Provider: ExPace • Introduced in 1999 Manufacturer: CASIC • 37 launches, 97% reliability SSO: 200 kg • Used primarily to support polar missions Estimated Price/kg: $18,000 Launch Site: Jiuquan, Taiyuan Kaituozhe 2 Provider: ExPace • Though used mainly for Chinese LEO: 300 kg government missions, it has launched • Reusable Estimated Price/kg: $50,000 Manufacturer: CASIC • First launch anticipated in 2020 several commercial satellites Launch Site: Jiuquan • Marketed commercially by China Great • Other variants planned • CASIC developed this variant from LEO: 350 kg • LinkSpace has raised ~$20M Wall Industry Corporation Long March 8 the Kuaizhou 1, which is no longer Estimated Price/kg: Undisclosed in service Provider: CASC • 7 launches, 100% reliability • CASIC developed this variant from the Manufacturer: CALT • CASIC also developing Kuaizhou 11, Kaituozhe 1 introduced in 2002 (only flew Launch Site: Wenchang Long March 3B/E Long March 3C 21, and 31 with LEO capacities of twice) LEO: Undisclosed 1,500 kg, 20,000 kg, and 70,000 kg, Provider: CASC Provider: CASC • Launched once successfully in 2017 SSO: 4,500 kg Jie Long 1 respectively • Kaitouzhe 2A, with a LEO capacity of Manufacturer: CALT Manufacturer: CALT GTO: 2,500 kg Provider: Chinarocket Co. Ltd. • Launched from a mobile platform 2,000 kg, under development Launch Site: Xichang Launch Site: Xichang Estimated