What are Launch Costs?

A space launch site is a specific area for launching spacecraft. Its main function is to complete the assembly, testing, and launch of the launch vehicle and spacecraft; track and measure the launch vehicle and spacecraft in flight, acquire data, process and analyze them; Carrier rockets and spacecraft monitor and control safety, and complete logistic support for detection and launch.

As

The choice of launch site has very complicated and comprehensive contradictory requirements. If it should be close to the industrial area, it should have convenient traffic conditions, but it should be far away from densely populated areas. It requires a place with few thunderstorms, low humidity, low wind speed, and little change in temperature difference. It should be as close as possible to the low latitudes of the equator; it requires solid geology and good safety conditions, but also requires a flat and open terrain with good layout and launch conditions.

The launch site usually consists of a test area (technical position),

Launch site Kennedy Space Center

The Kennedy Space Center is the largest launch base for manned spacecraft and various civilian spacecraft in the United States. It was established in July 1962 and is located on the island of Merritt on the east coast of Florida in the eastern United States. The centre consists of technical and launch positions. In the technical position, there are assembly and testing plants for rocket satellites, spacecraft and space shuttles. The most striking is the 160-meter-tall assembly building with a variety of advanced instruments and equipment. The launch site has a control center and 23 launch sites, of which 39A and 39B are now dedicated to launching the space shuttle. ^[3]

Launch site Baikonur Space Center

The Baikonur Space Center belongs to Russia, but is located in the Churatán Desert of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Founded in 1955, it covers a large area and is fully equipped, and is the world's largest launch site. The world's first artificial satellite and the first unmanned spacecraft flew into space from here; the Soyuz series manned spacecraft, the "Salute", "Peace" space station, "Moon", "Venus" From here, various space probes of Mars launched into human space. ^[3]

Kuru Space Center

The Kourou Space Center belongs to France and is located in French Guiana on the northeast coast of South America. Due to its proximity to the equator, it is the best satellite launch site in the world. When the same type of rocket sends satellites into orbit above the equator, launching at the Kuru Space Center is 15% more mass than launching at the Kennedy Space Center. ^[3]

Tanegashima Space Center

The Japan Tanegashima Space Center is located on the southeast coast of the southern tip of Tanegashima, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. It covers an area of 8.64 km2 and consists of three launch sites of Takezaki, Osaki, and Yoshinobu, and a series of telemetry and remote stations. Space launch center is mainly used to launch N series and H series rockets. Because the rocket area is restricted by fish floods, rocket launches can only be conducted in January-February and August-September each year. ^[3]

Xichang Satellite Launch Center

China Xichang Satellite Launch Center is located on the shore of Qionghai in Liangshan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, and is an ideal place to launch geostationary satellites. Climate here

It is suitable. The average annual temperature is 16 , the wind speed is not large throughout the year, and the frost-free period is very long. There are obvious dry and rainy seasons. The rainy season is from June to September each year, so October to May each year is the best launch season. The traffic here is also very convenient. The Chengdu-Kunming Railway and the Chuanyun Highway pass through here, and there are special railways and highways directly leading to the launch area. Xichang Airport, 45 km from the launch area, can take off and land Boeing 747 and C- 130 large aircraft.

The Xichang Satellite Launch Center is composed of a technical test area, a launch area, a command and control center, a tracking and measurement station, and a communication and meteorological technical service system. The Xichang Satellite Launch Center was opened in 1984. The center has repeatedly launched domestic and foreign satellites and is the main base for commercial satellite launches in China. ^[3]

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center

China Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center is the earliest and most tested rocket launching base in China. China's first satellite "Dongfanghong" No. 1 rose from here and is known as China's first aerospace city. It is located in the hinterland of the Gobi Desert in the northwestern part of China. The terrain here is flat, sparsely populated, and the climate is dry and rainy. There are about 300 days in the year that are good for launch tests.

This launch base is divided into test area, launch area, measurement and control center, and support facilities. It is fully equipped and large-scale, and undertakes various low-orbit satellite launch tasks. This glorious Gobi-light space city has impressed people with its high success rate of launching rockets. With the launch of China's manned spaceflight project, the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center will certainly attract worldwide attention. ^[3]