The International Center for Commercial Space Launches will include the launch pad of the cosmodrome and an industrial complex
SHANGHAI, April 8. /TASS/. China plans to begin construction of another spaceport in the mainland, which will be located in the Xiangshan County of the city of Ningbo in the eastern province of Zhejiang. This was reported on Thursday by the newspaper "Zhongguo Hantianbao" with reference to the provincial government.
The total investment in this project in the years of the 14th five-year plan (2021-2025) will amount to about 20 billion yuan (about $3 billion). The International Center for Commercial Space Launches will be located on a total area of 67 square kilometers. It will include the launch pad of the cosmodrome and an industrial complex. According to the project, after the construction is completed, it will be possible to carry out up to 100 commercial launches per year from the cosmodrome.
Currently, there are three spaceports located on the territory of mainland China: Jiuquan (northwestern Gansu Province), Taiyuan (northern Shanxi Province) and Xichang (southwestern Sichuan Province). Another spaceport was built near the city of Wenchang in the island province of Hainan. The new spaceport in Xiangshan County will be located at approximately the same latitude as the launch site in Xichang.
China is actively developing its national space program, developing meteorological, telecommunications and navigation satellites, as well as technologies for exploring the moon. Chinese scientists are also implementing a project to study asteroids and Mars, which they intend to begin intensive study of the surface in the near future.
According to the official statement of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, this year it is planned to carry out at least 40 launches and will set a new national record.
