China: Launch Capabilities
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Long March rocket.

The Long March rocket family, China's indigenously developed launch vehicle group, includes 12 different versions capable of placing satellites into low-earth (LEO), geo-stationary (GEO), and sun-synchronous orbits.[1] China continues to advance its launch vehicle technology and used the upgraded Long March-2F rocket with improved guidance and control systems, engines, and computer systems to launch its first man into space in October 2003.[2] China is also experimenting with heavy-lift space launch vehicles and plans to be able to launch 25 tons into LEO and 14 tons into GEO.[3] This Long March-5 rocket will triple the GEO payload capability of the current Long March-2F rocket.[4] In September 2003 China successfully tested its first four-stage solid-fuel launch vehicle, Kaituozhe-1 (KT-1), capable of placing microsatellites in orbit.[3,5]  China has also made strides in its reusable vehicle technology for its manned space program, “Project 921,” initiated in 1992.[2]  China conducted successfully its first manned mission on October 15, 2003 using the Shenzhou-V spacecraft, which is similar to the Russian Soyuz spacecraft.[2,6] Four successful unmanned Shenzhou launches had already taken place.[6] The launch of the Shenzhou-6 on October 12, 2005, was designed to place two astronauts (taikonauts) into orbit for several days, a significant improvement upon the single person placed in orbit for 21 hours in the first manned mission.[7]

Active Chinese Space Launch Facilities.

Chinese launches take place at one of three sites: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, or Xichang Satellite Launch Center.  Launches at Jiuquan, China's oldest space launch base, consist primarily of scientific, technical, and experimental satellites in lower- and middle-earth orbits.[8]  Located in Gansu province in northwest China, Jiuquan was also the launch site of China's first manned space mission.[8,9]  The Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, found in Kelan County in Shanxi Province, is considered to be an ideal site for launching sun-synchronous satellites due to its dry weather conditions.[8] The Xichang Satellite Launch Center, situated in the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan province, handles launches of geostationary satellites.[9] China has also decided upon a fourth launch site on Hainan island, which will be more efficient in terms of fuel and payload capacity for a launch into GEO.[4] It is expected to be operational in time for the first test flight of the Long March-5 heavy-lift rocket in 2008.[4]

China maintains an advanced telemetry, tracking, and command network (TT&C).[10]  It currently includes: eight domestic, ground-tracking stations; two foreign-based ground-tracking stations in Kiribati (located in the South Pacific Ocean) and Namibia (located in southwestern Africa); four Yuanwang-class tracking ships; and two control facilities, the Xian Satellite Control Center in central China and the Beijing Spaceflight Command and Control Center.[10,11,12,13]  China completed upgrades to its TT&C network in 2000, including the addition of an S-band tracking capability, a frequency used for geo-stationary satellite tracking.[10,11] Additionally, in March 2005 China established the Space Target and Debris Observation and Research Center to aid in the prevention of debris strikes against satellites and manned spacecraft.[14]

[1] "White Paper Hails China's Achievements in Space Program," Xinhua, November 22, 2000, FBIS Document CPP20001122000026.
[2] Leonard David, "Shenzhou Secrets: China Prepares for First Human Spaceflight," Space.com website, September 24, 2003, http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/shenzhou_tech_030924.html.
[3] Keith Stein, "Report: China Expands Missile and Space Goals," Space & Missile, Vol. 4, No. 31, August 4, 2003.
[4] Yu Dawei, "Hainan To Become China's New Space-Launch Center," Shanghai Liaowang Dongfang Zhoukan, March 31, 2005, in "PRC Journal Article on Hainan Spaceport Project, Cites Officials, Space Experts," FBIS Document CPP20050422000151.
[5] “China Successfully Test Fires Its First Four-Stage Solid-Fuel Launch Vehicle,” Xinhua, September 24, 2003, FBIS Document CPP20030924000048.
[6] Jim Yardley, "China Sends Man Into Orbit, Entering U.S.-Russian Club," New York Times online edition, October 15, 2003, http://www.nytimes.com.
[7] "AFP: PRC Launches 2nd Manned Space Mission," Hong Kong AFP, October 12, 2005; in FBIS Document CPP20051012042031.

[8] "China's Three Major Space Launch Bases," China Daily online edition, October 15, 2003, http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2003-10/15/content_272334.htm.
[9] "Satellite Launch Centers," China.org website, http://www.china.org.cn/english/SPORT-c/77178.htm.
[10] Wei Long, "China Builds Advanced Spacecraft Tracking and Command Network," SpaceDaily.com, May 29, 2000, http://www.spacedaily.com/news/china-00za.html.
[11] Philip Saunders, Jing-dong Yuan, Stephanie Lieggi, and Angela Deters, "China's Space Capabilities and the Strategic Logic of Anti-Satellite Weapons," Research Story of the Week, CNS website, July 22, 2002, http://cns.miis.edu/pubs/week/020722.htm.
[12]  Maggie Barnard, "Chinese say space station for 'peaceful purposes,'" The Namibian, October 31, 2001; in "Namibia:  First Chinese space station in Africa to be used for 'peaceful purposes,'" FBIS Document AFP20011031000141.
[13] Peter Kammerer, "Winning Over Oceania," Sunday Morning Post, September 21, 2003; in "HK Paper on PRC Growing Involvement in South Pacific, Oceania Regions," FBIS Document CPP20030922000127.
[14] "China Establishes First Space Trash Observation Center," Xinhua, March 14, 2005, on SpaceDaily.com http:/www.spacedaily.com/news/china-05zc.html. {Updated 10/20/2005}