Wenchang: China has successfully tested its newly constructed launch pad for manned lunar missions at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan Province. The 120-meter high structure, equivalent to a 40-story building, marks a significant step in China's plans for future lunar travel.
According to Thai News Agency, the launch pad conducted its first launch on February 11, demonstrating the low-level flight of the Long March-10 rocket and performing a high-dynamic-pressure emergency ejection test of China's new manned spacecraft, "Mengzhou." Di Baojun, an official at the launch center, highlighted the strategic location of the new technical area at 19 degrees north latitude, making it China's lowest-latitude spaceport. This location offers a wide launch angle, high payload capacity, minimal transport restrictions, and a safe debris disposal area, ideal for heavy-payload launches.
The Long March-10 rocket, standing at 92.5 meters tall, is designated for China's manned lunar exploration missions. The Mengzhou spacecraft, also sizable, necessitates the use of the new launch pad, which is China's tallest space launch tower. Unlike the current Shenzhou manned spacecraft launch pad, the new tower features a fully open design without a rotating spacecraft structure. This allows for a variety of spacecraft testing procedures and offers increased typhoon resistance, suitable for volatile coastal weather.
A key structural component of the launch pad is the flame deflection stack, situated beneath the tower. Designed to manage the high-temperature exhaust gases from the Long March-10 rocket's powerful engine ignition, the stack is nearly 30 meters deep. It efficiently dissipates exhaust produced by over 2,600 tons of thrust, while the water jet system can release almost 1,000 tons of cooling water within 15 seconds.
Construction of the tower, along with the testing facilities and supporting infrastructure, is nearing completion. Tee, a representative involved in the project, stated that the final stages of equipment installation and detailing are underway. The construction, which began in April 2024, is expected to be completed by the latter half of 2026.