Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center

The Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center (TSLC) also known as Base 25 (Chinese: 二十五基地), is a People's Republic of China space and defence launch facility (spaceport). It is situated in Kelan County, Xinzhou, Shanxi Province and is the second of four launch sites having been founded in March 1966 and coming into full operation in 1968. Taiyuan sits at an altitude of 1500 meters and its dry climate makes it an ideal launch site. Confusingly, U.S. intelligence designates TSLC the "Wuzhai Missile and Space Test Centre", despite the fact that it is outside the borders of Wuzhai County. The site is primarily used to launch meteorological satellites, Earth resource satellites and scientific satellites on Long March launch vehicles into Sun-synchronous orbits. TSLC is also a major launch site for intercontinental ballistic missiles and overland submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) tests.

Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center
太原卫星发射中心
Location
Alternative namesBase 25
General information
StatusComplete
LocationKelan, Xinzhou, Shanxi
Coordinates38°50′56.71″N 111°36′30.59″E
Opened1968
Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center
Simplified Chinese太原卫星发射中心
Traditional Chinese太原衛星發射中心

The site has a sophisticated Technical Center and Mission Command and Control Center. It is served by two feeder railways that connect with the Ningwu–Kelan railway.

Launch pads
Long March 6 on 16 Satellite Launch Pad

Recent launches
Date Vehicle Payload Outcome Comments
6 September 2008 Long March 2C Two Huanjing satellites Success[3]

Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center was to launch a satellite coded as the 03 Group of the Shijian-6 serial research satellites sometime on 24 October 2008. The rocket carrier was to be a Long March 4B, said the official, noting both the satellite and the rocket were in good condition and all the preparations for the launch had been completed.[4]

See also

References
  1. "太原卫星发射中心从卫星影像看发射塔". 中国象山同乡网. 30 October 2007. Retrieved 9 June 2008.
  2. 太原卫星发射中心启用新工位 航天发射能力跃升 (in Chinese). China News. 25 October 2008. Retrieved 27 October 2008.
  3. "China launches two natural disaster monitoring satellites". Xinhua. 6 September 2008.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2008.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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