Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site

The Wenchang Space Launch Site (Chinese: 文昌航天发射场), located in Wenchang, Hainan, China, is a rocket launch site. It is one of the two spacecraft launch sites of the Xichang Satellite Launch Center (the other site is in called Sichuan).A former suborbital test center, it is China's fourth and southernmost space vehicle launch facility (spaceport). It was selected for its low latitude, which is only 19° north of the equator, allowing for the increase in payload necessary for launching China's future space station. It is capable of launching the Long March 5, the most powerful Chinese rocket.Unlike the space centers on the mainland, whose rail tracks are too narrow to transport the new five meter core boosters, Wenchang uses its sea port for deliveries. Initial launches of the CZ-5 booster from Wenchang were expected to start in 2014, one year after the intended commissioning of the Wenchang Launch Site. However, the first launch of CZ-5 was later shifted to 2016 and took place on 3 November 2016. The CZ-5B (maximum payload to LEO) variant was expected to be completed circa 2018 but the maiden flight took place on 5 May 2020. A CZ-5 carrier rocket was already shipped from North China's Tianjin port on 20 September 2015 for a rehearsal (Drills carried out on the launch pad, involving both the carrier rocket and a probe) of a scheduled Chang'e-5 lunar mission, which was planned for around 2019 and was successfully launched on 23 November 2020.

The construction of the site was completed by October 2014. The first launch took place successfully on 25 June 2016.