China’s Orbital Launch Activity

This graphic provides foundational data on China’s orbital launch sites and launch vehicles, as
well as on the general structure of China’s state-managed space industry.
Orbital Launch
Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center Vehicles Currently in
Operation
酒泉卫星发射中心
General Organization of China’s Space Industry
1970
Long March-2C
First Launch
Long March-2D

123
Central Committee of the National People’s Supreme People’s
Total Orbital Launches Long March-2F
Communist Party of China Congress Court
Long March-3A
China’s first orbital launch took place
Long March-3B/E Central Military Commission
from this site. Used for government
Long March-3C State Council
missions to all orbits and is the only
site supporting human spaceflight People’s Liberation Army
Long March-4B
missions.
Long March-4C
China Meteorological
Long March-5 China Academy of Sciences
Administration
Long March-6
Long March-7 Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT)
SASTIND: Regulation and SASAC: Appointment
Long March-11 planning of military industrial State Administration for State-owned Assets of senior executives,
Others complex. Regulates launch Science, Technology Supervision and management and policy
and re-entry activities and Industry for Administration guidance
National Defense Commission of the State

$11B
(SASTIND) Council (SASAC)
Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center Estimated CNSA
太原卫星发射中心 Budget in 2018

1988
China National Space China Aerospace Science and China Aerospace Science and
First Launch Administration (CNSA) Industry Corporation (CASIC) Technology Corporation (CASC)

80 Total Orbital Launches

China Commercial Space
CASIC is China’s primary
manufacturer of missiles and
related equipment. It is composed
CASC is the primary State Owned
Enterprise responsible for the
development, manufacturing,
This site is used primarily to support missions Alliance of 7 academies and hundreds and operation of launch vehicles,
to low Earth orbit, especially polar orbits. of subordinate companies and satellites, spacecraft, and other
institutions employing nearly space equipment. It employs about
150,000 people. 170,000 people across the country.

China Space Foundation To promote greater industrial Key subordinate organizations

competition, in 1999 the former include China Academy of Launch
The China Space Foundation is a non- China Aerospace Company was Vehicle Technology (CALT) and
profit aimed at space education and split into CASIC and CASC, with Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight
international cooperation general aerospace and military Technology (SAST), both
equipment being the focus of CASIC manufacturers of spacecraft and
and space the focus of CASC. Still, launch vehicles; China Great Wall
The China Commercial CASIC provides support in the form Industry Corporation (CGWIC), the
Space Alliance was of solid motors and spaceflight marketing arm of CASC; and China
set up in 2019 to help support systems. Satcom, China’s primary satellite
Xichang Satellite Launch Center
Long March-11 Yellow Sea launch platform promote and regulate
the country’s growing
communications provider.

西昌卫星发射中心
2019
private space sector
First Launch
1984 First Launch
1 Total Orbital Launches
Wenchang 40
138 Total Orbital Launches A converted barge is used to launch Long March-11 vehicles. becomes
This launch site is used mainly to support launches operational in 35
to geosynchronous and medium Earth orbits. 2016 with the
In 2011, the number successful
of Chinese orbital launch of a 30
Wenchang Satellite Launch Center launches overtakes CZ-7
that of the United
文昌航天发射发射中心

Number of Launches
States for the first time 25

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center 2016 First Launch

China’s first human
Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center
5 Total Orbital Launches spaceflight mission,
20

Wenchang Satellite Launch Center China’s recently inaugurated launch site optimized Shenzhou 5, is
Xichang Satellite Launch Center to support the country’s newest and largest launched successfully 15
vehicles capable of accessing a variety of orbits. on October 15, 2003
China’s first Yellow Sea Launch Platform
satellite, DFH-I, is 10
launched aboard a
CZ-1 from Jiuquan
5

1970 As of December 31, 2019 2019

China’s Orbital Launch Vehicles Ceres 1
Medium to Intermediate Vehicles Heavy Vehicles
3,000 to 10,000 kg to LEO 10,000 kg+ to LEO
by Capacity Class Provider: Galactic Energy
Manufacturer: Galactic Energy
Long March 6
Includes operational vehicles and vehicles with a high probably of entering operations during Launch Site: Jiuquan Provider: CASC Long March 5
the next 2 years. Partial failures counted as failures in reliability calculation. LEO: 350 kg Long March 7
Estimated Price/kg: $14,000
Manufacturer: SAST
Launch Site: Taiyuan Long March 4C Provider: CASC
Provider: CASC Manufacturer: CALT
Small Vehicles • First launch planned in 2020
• Also developing Pallas vehicle
LEO: 1,080 kg
Estimated Price/kg: Undisclosed
Provider: CASC
Manufacturer: SAST
Manufacturer: CALT
Launch Site: Wenchang
Launch Site: Wenchang

Less than 3,000 kg to LEO (4,000 to LEO), first launch in 2022 LEO: 25,000 kg (5B)
• Developed jointly by CALT and SAST Launch Sites: Jiuquan, Taiyuan LEO: 13,500 kg GTO: 14,000 kg
• Company has raised $43M (2020) • Introduced in 2015 LEO: 4,200 kg
and expects to launch Ceres 1 for GTO: 5,500 kg (7A) TLI: 8,200 kg
OS-M
• 3 launches, 100% reliability GTO: 1,500 kg Estimated Price/kg: Undisclosed
first time in 2020 Estimated Price/kg: Undisclosed
Provider: OneSpace
Hyperbola • Used primarily for government and
university missions and does not appear
Estimated Price/kg: $15,400
• Introduced in 2016, inaugurating • Introduced in 2016
to be offered commercially • Derived from the Long March 4B, China’s newest launch site on
Manufacturer: OneSpace Provider: iSpace Technology • China’s most powerful launch vehicle
Launch Site: Jiuquan Manufacturer: iSpace Technology Zhuque 1 featuring a restartable upper stage
• Introduced in 2007
Hainan Island, Wenchang Spacecraft
Launch Site
•
•
3 launches, 67% reliability
Resumed operational status in
LEO: 205 kg (OS-M1) Launch Site: Wenchang • 26 launches, 92% reliability • 2 launches, 100% reliability
LEO: 300 kg (Hyperbola 1) Provider: LandSpace December 2019 following July 2017
Estimated Price/kg: Undisclosed • Used to support polar missions • Will replace the Long March 2F as failure
Estimated Price/kg: Undisclosed Manufacturer: LandSpace • The 4C variant differs from the primary vehicle for Shenzhou human
• Attempted first orbital launch of Launch Site: Jiuquan • At least two variants expected, both

Long March 11
4B in that the former features a spaceflight missions with similar capacities but differ in
OS-M1 in March 2019, but failed • In July 2019, iSpace became China’s LEO: 300 kg restartable second stage and a • A second variant, the Long March terms of velocity
• Composed of decommissioned first private company to successfully Estimated Price/kg: Undisclosed payload fairing with larger volume 7A, feature a third stage • Used to support deployment of space
Provider: CASC
Long March 4B
solid motors from retired missiles launch a satellite into orbit using the • Marketed commercially by China • Marketed commercially by China station modules, next generation
• Launched from a mobile platform Hyperbola 1 • Launched for the first time in 2018, but Manufacturer: CALT Great Wall Industry Corporation Great Wall Industry Corporation human spacecraft, and interplanetary
• Other variants planned • Launched from a mobile platform failed to reach orbit Launch Sites: Jiuquan,
• Other variants planned • After manufacturer of solid motors Provider: CASC probes
Yellow Sea platform, Xichang
terminated contract with LandSpace, Manufacturer: SAST
LEO: 530 kg
company moving on to Zhuque 2 Launch Sites: Jiuquan, Taiyuan
(4,000 kg to LEO) Estimated Price/kg: $10,000
LEO: 4,200 kg
New Line 1 • LandSpace has raised ~$161M in
investment
• Vehicle introduced in 2015
• 8 launches, 100% reliability
GTO: 1,500 kg
Estimated Price/kg: $15,400
Provider: LinkSpace
Manufacturer: LinkSpace
Kuaizhou 1A • Launched from mobile land- and
sea-based platforms • Derived from the retired Long March 4A
Launch Sites: Mangnai, Qinghai Provider: ExPace • Introduced in 1999
SSO: 200 kg Manufacturer: CASIC
Launch Site: Jiuquan, Taiyuan
Kaituozhe 2 •
•
37 launches, 97% reliability
Used primarily to support polar missions
Estimated Price/kg: $18,000 • Though used mainly for Chinese
LEO: 300 kg Provider: ExPace
government missions, it has launched
• Reusable
Estimated Price/kg: $50,000 Manufacturer: CASIC
• First launch anticipated in 2020 several commercial satellites
•
•
Other variants planned
LinkSpace has raised ~$20M
• CASIC developed this variant from
Launch Site: Jiuquan
LEO: 350 kg
• Marketed commercially by China Great
Wall Industry Corporation
Long March 8
the Kuaizhou 1, which is no longer
Estimated Price/kg: Undisclosed
in service Provider: CASC
• 7 launches, 100% reliability
• CASIC also developing Kuaizhou 11,
• CASIC developed this variant from the
Kaituozhe 1 introduced in 2002 (only flew
Manufacturer: CALT
Launch Site: Wenchang Long March 3B/E Long March 3C
21, and 31 with LEO capacities of twice) LEO: Undisclosed
Jie Long 1 1,500 kg, 20,000 kg, and 70,000 kg,
respectively
• Launched once successfully in 2017
• Kaitouzhe 2A, with a LEO capacity of
SSO: 4,500 kg
Provider: CASC
Manufacturer: CALT
Provider: CASC
Manufacturer: CALT
GTO: 2,500 kg Launch Site: Xichang
Provider: Chinarocket Co. Ltd. • Launched from a mobile platform 2,000 kg, under development Launch Site: Xichang
• ExPace marketing arm for CASIC Estimated Price/kg: Undisclosed GTO: 5,500 kg
Manufacturer: CALT • ExPace is the marketing arm for CASIC GTO: 3,800 kg
Launch Site: Jiuquan • First launch planned for 2020 Estimated Price/kg: $5,300 Estimated Price/kg: $5,300
LEO: 250 kg est. • Features a combination of Long
Estimated Price/kg: $30,000 Long March 2F March 7 first stage and boosters with • Derived from the retired Long
March 3A
•
•
Derived from Long March 3B
Introduced in 2008
a second stage derived from the
• Launched for the first time in August 2019, Long March 3B • Introduced in 1996 • 17 launches, 100% reliability
successfully carried 3 satellites into orbit Provider: CNSA • Reusable first stage and boosters, • 64 launches, 95% reliability • Used mainly for GEO
• Launched from a mobile platform Manufacturer: CALT using launding struts similar to those • The E version features enhanced missions, but has been used

Long March 3A
• Other variants planned Launch Site: Jiuquan used on SpaceX Falcon 9 3B first stage and boosters to launch several CNSA
LEO: 8,400 kg • Used mainly for GEO missions, tracking and data relay
but has been used to launch some satellites, some BeiDou
Estimated Price/kg: N/A
Provider: CASC BeiDou satellites in highly elliptical satellites, and two probes to
• Only used to support human Manufacturer: CALT and medium Earth orbits the Moon (Chang’e)
spaceflight missions • CNSA’s Chang’e 4 lander and • Marketed commercially by
Launch Site: Xichang
• Introduced in 1999 rover was delivered to the Moon’s China Great Wall Industry
• 13 launches, 100% reliability
LEO: 8,500 kg far side in 2018 Corporation
GTO: 2,600 kg
Long March 2C Long March 2D
• Launched China’s first astronaut • Marketed commercially by China
into orbit aboard Shenzhou 5 in Estimated Price/kg: $8,200 Great Wall Industry Corporation
October 2003 • Introduced in 1994
Provider: CASC Provider: CASC • Overall, vehicle has put 11 • 27 launches, 100% reliability
Manufacturer: CALT Manufacturer: SAST Shenzhou and 2 Tiangong space • Used exclusively to support
Launch Sites: Jiuquan, Taiyuan, Launch Sites: Jiuquan, Taiyuan station modules into orbit Chinese government programs,
Xichang LEO: 3,500 kg • CNSA intends to replace vehicle especially the BeiDou navigation
LEO: 3,850 kg Estimated Price/kg: $8,500 with the Long March 7 satellite constellation
• Not offered as a commercial option
Estimated Price/kg: $8,000 • Derived from the Long March 4, a vehicle
• It has also been used to deploy
relatively small GEO satellites for
• Derived from the DF-5 ICBM system manufactured by SAST for polar
Chinasat
• First launched in 1982 missions
• Marketed commercially by China
• 51 launches, 98% reliability • Introduced in 1992
Great Wall Industry Corporation,
• Used primarily for LEO and polar missions • 44 launches, 100% reliability
but to date has not been used to
• Marketed commercially by China Great • Used primarily for LEO and polar missions
launch non-Chinese spacecraft
Wall Industry Corporation • Marketed commercially by China Great
Wall Industry Corporation

Exclusive or routine
smallsat deployment
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