🚀 Long March 5B | 🛰 Guowang Broadband Constellation Batch
Launch date: April 28, 2025 20:10 UTC
Payload: Guowang Broadband Constellation Batch
Location: Wenchang Satellite Launch Center, Hainan, China
Vehicle: Long March 5B
On April 28, 2025, a Long March 5B rocket launched from Wenchang Satellite Launch Center, sending a batch of satellites for China’s Guowang broadband megaconstellation into low Earth orbit.
Launch Complex 1, Wenchang Space Launch Site, China
Launch Complex 1 (LC-101) at the Wenchang Space Launch Site, situated on Hainan Island, is the southernmost and newest major orbital launch facility of China. Commissioned in 2014 and operated by CASC, the site takes advantage of its low latitude to maximize payload efficiency on missions to geostationary and lunar orbits. LC-1 is designed to accommodate China’s largest launch vehicles, including the Long March 5, 5B, and 7, enabling the country to conduct heavy-lift missions such as lunar, deep space, and space station resupply.
Wenchang has played a pivotal role in China’s recent space ambitions, hosting significant launches such as the Tianhe core module for the Chinese space station and interplanetary missions like Tianwen-1 to Mars. Its modern infrastructure and unique seaside location distinguish it from other Chinese spaceports, positioning it as a cornerstone for the country’s future space exploration endeavors.