Hainan to start construction of commercial space launch site

(ECNS) -- South China’s Hainan will begin construction of a commercial space launch site by the end of June, rapidly implementing the development of the Wenchang International Aerospace City, according to a press conference on Tuesday.

Wenchang will accelerate the establishment of a commercial space launch agency, and start construction of the first two launch pads at the site this year, said Wang Guangzhi, deputy head of the Wenchang International Aerospace City Administration.

The plan is to create infrastructure allowing regular commercial launches by 2024, Wang added.

Wenchang also plans to build space tourism theme parks and a China Space Museum.

The China National Space Administration (CNSA) has established a BRICS Remote Sensing Satellite Constellation Data and Application Center, an International Cooperation Center for Satellite Data and Application, and a High-Resolution Earth Observation System Hainan Data and Application Center this year.

The Wenchang Space Launch Site was approved for use in October 2014. It has carried out 16 space launches, including China's Tianhe space station, the Tianzhou cargo spacecraft, Chang'e-5, and Tianwen-1