Founded:
1966
Owner / Operator:
China Great Wall Industry Corporation
Location:
Kelan, Xinzhou, Shanxi, China
Time zone:
GMT+08:00
Elevation:
1,500 m (4921 ft)
Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center is one of China’s primary launch facilities. The base is also known as Base 25 by the Chinese and the Wuzhai Missile and Space Test Centre by the United States, despite it being located well outside Wuzhai County.
In addition to three launch pads, the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center features facilities for vehicle and spacecraft testing and assembly, safety controls, in-flight tracking, and orbital predictions. It is surrounded by mountains on the east, south and north, and the Yellow River to the west. Average annual temperatures range from 4 to 10°C with a high in summer of 28°C and a low of -39°C in winter.
Due to its location, the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center is only accessible by road or railway. The Taiyuan airport is located approximately 300 kilometres from the site and is capable of receiving the largest of China’s transport planes.
History
Construction on the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center began in 1966. It was established in order to launch missiles too large for the Jiuquan Space Launch Center. The facility became operational in 1968 and was used to test DF-21 and DF-3 medium-range ballistic missiles, and DF-5 and DF-31 intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Today, the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center launches a wide range of launch vehicles from China’s Long March rocket family. Long March 4C, Long March 4B, Long March 3B, Long March 2C, Long March 2D, and Long March 6 rockets are launched from the facility’s three operational launch pads. In addition to the launch of orbital rockets, Taiyuan is still utilised for testing ballistic missiles.
