Overview
Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC) is China's first and most active spaceport, located in the Gobi Desert in Gansu Province. Established in 1958, Jiuquan launched China's first satellite (Dongfanghong-1, 1970) and every crewed Shenzhou mission. It remains the primary launch site for LEO missions and is the busiest of China's four launch sites by annual cadence.
Facility Details
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Gobi Desert, Gansu Province / Inner Mongolia, China |
| Coordinates | 40.96°N, 100.29°E |
| Operator | PLA Strategic Support Force / CASC |
| Established / First Launch | 1958 |
| Active Vehicles | Long March 2F (crewed), Long March 2D, Long March 4C, Long March 11, commercial launchers |
| Launch Pads | Multiple — dedicated crewed pad, commercial pads |
| Orbital Access | LEO (various inclinations), SSO |
| Inclination Range | ~40°–98° (SSO) |
Key Missions
Crewed Spaceflight: Every Chinese crewed mission (Shenzhou programme) launches from Jiuquan on the Long March 2F rocket. This includes all crew rotation missions to the Tiangong space station.
LEO Satellites: Jiuquan handles a high volume of small and medium satellite launches using Long March 2D and 4C rockets, as well as a growing number of commercial launch providers.
Jiuquan is not used for GEO or heavy-lift launches, which instead go to Wenchang (Long March 5/7) or Xichang (Long March 3B). The Gobi Desert location provides vast unpopulated downrange areas for spent stages — though booster debris occasionally falls near rural communities, a persistent concern with China's inland launch sites.