Wed Dec 04 13:10:16 UTC 2024: ## Hainan’s Commercial Spaceport Prepares for Second Launch
**WENCHANG, Hainan, China (CHINA DAILY) –** Hainan’s new International Commercial Aerospace Launch Center is gearing up for its second launch, scheduled before the end of the year. The launch will feature a Long March 8 carrier rocket, which has already been transported to the Wenchang facility, according to General Manager Liu Hongjian. The rocket’s pre-launch preparations are currently underway.
This follows the successful debut launch of a Long March 12 rocket from the center’s second launch tower on Saturday night, marking the model’s maiden flight and the spaceport’s inaugural mission. The center, a joint venture between the Hainan provincial government and three state-owned space conglomerates, boasts two launch towers capable of handling a wide range of rockets, including those from private companies. Each tower can facilitate up to 16 launches annually.
The Long March 8, designed to place satellites into sun-synchronous orbit, will cater to the growing demand from domestic and international commercial satellite companies. The new spaceport represents China’s first dedicated commercial launch complex, distinct from government-operated facilities like the existing Wenchang Space Launch Center.
First Piper 