China expands and diversifies space launch infrastructure to meet growing demand

China is expanding and diversifying its space launch infrastructure to support a growing commercial space sector. A notable example occurred in September when a commercial rocket carrying nine satellites lifted off from a ship in the East China Sea near Shanghai. Although Shanghai, a densely populated economic hub, lacks a traditional rocket launch site, sea-based launches connect the city to China's expanding space industry. China's first sea launch took place in 2019 off the coast of Haiyang in Shandong Province. Since then, the coastal city has built a spaceport for rocket assembly, testing, and launch operations. Teng Yao, chief engineer of the spaceport, said sea launches offer greater flexibility in choosing launch locations and trajectories and allow rocket debris to fall into unpopulated waters.

Wenchang in Hainan Province, which hosts a launch site for space station modules and lunar probes, has added facilities specifically for commercial rocket and satellite launches since 2024. Meanwhile, the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone near the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China has developed launch pads tailored to private rocket makers. Access to launch pads has been a challenge for China's commercial space sector. Wang Lifeng, a professor at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, cited limited launch capacity, tight schedules, and long distances between launch sites and rocket assembly facilities as constraints on growth. Large satellite networks like Qianfan (Spacesail) and GW constellations, each with more than 10,000 satellites, further increase the need for a steady flow of launches.

Diversified facilities not only boost launch numbers but also make operations more efficient. Wenchang's commercial spacecraft launch site has put its first two pads into regular service. The second pad alone can accommodate more than 20 rocket types and can be prepared for another launch in 66 hours. The third and fourth pads in the second phase are scheduled to be operational by the end of the year. Upon full commissioning, the site will be able to handle about 60 launches annually. Haiyang offers another route to efficiency. Peng Haomin, co-founder of Orienspace, said the private company's facilities are clustered in Haiyang's spaceport, allowing rockets to be assembled, tested, and loaded onto a launch ship within 5 km. "This has replaced usual transportation over more than 1,000 km, drastically cutting logistics time and cost," Peng said. Dedicated facilities can also streamline rocket operations. Meng Xiangfu, deputy chief commander of the Lijian-1 rocket at commercial spaceflight company CAS Space, said that with its tailored launch pad and technical facilities at the Dongfeng pilot zone, the company can complete testing and preparation of a rocket in 10 days.

The expansion of launch infrastructure also boosts local economies through investment. Haiyang has attracted 33.5 billion yuan (around 5 billion U.S. dollars) in related investment across more than 30 aerospace projects. Wenchang's space industry park hosts over 700 companies, while Shanghai is developing a commercial spaceport-related terminal to link rocket assembly with port logistics and sea launch services. These developments fit into a broader global trend of investing in space capabilities, as the United States aims to expand its space transportation capabilities and Russia calls for efforts to upgrade its industrial and ground-based space infrastructure. A 2025-2027 action plan issued by the China National Space Administration calls for coordinated development of commercial space launch sites and supports new types of commercial launch systems, including sea-based launch and recovery facilities. China is also pressing ahead with the development of heavy-lift and reusable launch vehicles to further expand launch capacity and improve cost efficiency. Analysts note that efficient operation of these facilities could equip China's commercial space sector with the launch capacity and operational flexibility it needs. According to Mehr News, which republished the Xinhua report, these developments mark a significant step in China's space infrastructure expansion.