Space

New launch pad built at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center

PLA Daily 2003-12-31

At 3:20 pm on November 3, China's 18th recoverable scientific and technological experiment satellite was successfully launched into the space orbit from a newly built launching pad at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

According to the experts, the reinforced concrete structured launching pad, the first of its kind in China, is also very rare in the world's space programs.

The new launching pad, 91-metre high with a 20-metre-long lightening arrester on its top, has thirteen 12-metre-wide working platforms. It's width is only half of that of the launching pad for "Shenzhou" series spaceships.

The new launching pad is a "testing and launching tower" which incoperates the functions of hoisting, docking, testing, injecting and launching of rocket carriers.

On the launching pad, there are more than 40 testing working rooms and sealed space so as to provide an all weather testing and preparation conditions for scientific and technical workers.

As a special environment is needed for working on satellite, therefore there are tightly sealed testing rooms on the launching pad, and temperature and humidity in these rooms are also adjustable.

By Ouyang Lin and Jiang Fuhai

(December 31, PLA Daily)