This photo taken on June 30, 2024, shows a scene from a rocket launch simulation practice session at the advertising spacecraft launch site in southern China’s Hainan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
China’s first advertising spacecraft launch site is ready for operation in south China’s Hainan province on Sunday after completing a simulated rocket launch practice session on its two launch pads.
According to Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Co. , Ltd. (HICAL), which built and operates the launch site, the trainings conducted on the launch pads included water spray and deluge formula cooling, as well as a check of the erection of the rocket’s lifting arm.
After evaluations, HICAL demonstrated that it is operational for release missions.
ICAL Chairman Yang Tianliang called on the company to work with satellite and rocket developers and prepare for the site’s first launch project.
Established in June 2022, HICAL was founded through the Hainan Provincial Government, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation and China Satellite Network Group Co. , Ltd.
The release site represents an investment of about four billion yuan (about US$560 million) and is located off the coast of Wenchang City. Includes a release area, a TT building
It is located at a latitude of 20 degrees north and enjoys the benefits of a low latitude, increasing the rocket’s payload capabilities and reducing launch costs.
Compared to inland launches, coastal launches are more convenient and safer, because giant rockets can be transported via ships, which is very vital for advertising launch services. The Hainan provincial government is planning the construction of a new port expressly.
The coastal location also gives HICAL the credit for recovering reusable rockets after launch. The company works with advertising rocket developers to conduct experiments such as vertical landings and rocket recovery at sea.
The launch is designed with two launch pads for liquid propellant rockets and two more for solid propellant rockets, with launch pads No. 1 and No. 2 completed in December 2023 and June 2024, respectively.
Platform No. 1 is designed for Long March-8, China’s new-generation medium carrier rocket. Platform No. 2 is capable of launching several rockets of other diameters from advertising rocket companies. Each platform has an annual capacity of 16 releases.
The release site’s fuel and propellant formula is capable of refueling and transporting liquid oxygen, liquid hydrogen, kerosene, and methane.
HICAL will also promote rocket companies by offering overseas ad posting services. Xiang Dalin, deputy director of HICAL’s technical department, said the company will publish a universal interface record of advertising rocket designs both locally and abroad.
The advertising area industry included in the Chinese government’s painting report for the first time this year. It has been indexed as one of the “emerging industries and industries of the future” that the government plans to develop.
According to China’s 2023 Blue Book of Aerospace Science and Technology, the country carried out 26 launches in 2023, accounting for 39% of its total number of launches.
China’s advertising market has maintained immediate expansion since 2015, with an average annual expansion rate of more than 20% between 2017 and 2024. Its market value is estimated to reach around 2. 34 trillion yuan until 2024.