Hainan Sets Up Aerospace Data Center, Signs Deals for Commercial Launches

South China's Hainan Province has established an International Aerospace Data Service Center, one of several outcomes from an aerospace forum held in Wenchang on the island's eastern coast from Aug. 24 to 26. According to the Hainan International Media Center, the forum produced a series of major contracts signed to establish infrastructure for regular commercial launches.

The administration of Wenchang's space city signed strategic and framework agreements with 17 companies, including the commercial rocket division of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, while Hainan Space Group signed memorandums with six companies, including China Galaxy Securities. The agreements span satellite manufacturing, finance and space tourism, and are meant to lay the groundwork for frequent commercial launches. A joint laboratory for intelligent computing satellite constellations was also opened at the event.

The forum was organized by the Wenchang International Aerospace City Administration with support from government agencies and several leading Chinese banks. Participants including experts, investors and officials discussed reusable launch vehicle technology, low-Earth-orbit satellite internet, financial support for aerospace projects, and how to leverage the Hainan Free Trade Port for the industry.

Liu Hongjian, chairman of Hainan Space Group and head of the province's international commercial launch center, said the island is rapidly developing a world-class aerospace science and industrial cluster. Wenchang Mayor Cao Shuyu highlighted the area's advantages in launch efficiency, logistics and safety monitoring in rocket-stage drop zones, saying the cluster allows significant cost reductions and supports rocket assembly, data exchange, satellite manufacturing and space tourism.

The province's spaceport has carried out 11 launches so far this year, and construction of new launch pads is proceeding at an accelerated pace. Major projects planned for the next five years include deploying satellite constellations, a crewed lunar program and launching heavy-lift rockets into orbit.