China builds a ship to launch missiles at sea

The ship is specially designed to launch rockets into space from the sea surface, which enhances China's satellite launch and booster recovery capabilities.

A new rocket launcher 162.5 m long and 40 m wide is under construction for use in conjunction with the Oriental Spaceport in Haiyang, Shandong province. It is expected that the new ship will go into service in 2022. The vehicle will integrate a launch assist device, which can serve the Long March 11 rocket, the larger "Smart Dragon" commercial rocket and multiple rockets. liquid material in the future. The ship will also be used to recover the first stage of the rocket, similar to how SpaceX's autonomous drones provide landing pads for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets.

China has conducted the launch of the Long March 11 solid-fuel rocket twice from the Yellow Sea, using a modified barge, the most recent launch taking place in September 2020. These missions make China the third country to conduct launches at sea, after the US and Russia. Earlier this year, China's main space contractor said it planned to launch 2-3 Long March 11 rockets at sea this year. The new ship will help increase China's sea launch frequency and relieve pressure on the four main launch centers.

In 2021, China launched 41 times, setting a new national record for the number of launches into orbit, surpassing the US (39 times). With more commercial companies emerging and plans to develop satellite constellations now, launch at sea will provide more routes to orbit.

The flexible location of the launch site means that it is easier for authorities to choose a flight path and can ensure that the spent rocket stage and other debris fall into the sea instead of land. Debris from land-based launches in China often falls to the ground and is sometimes located near residential areas. Mobile launchers at sea also allow launching closer to the equator. The Earth's higher rotational speed near the equator means less fuel will be needed by the spacecraft.

The Oriental Port project is jointly developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), the main rocket manufacturer of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), and jointly developed by the Chinese Academy of Science and Technology. Hai Duong city. The facility in Hai Duong is also capable of assembling and testing rockets, producing up to 20 solid rockets per year. In the future, the facility will produce more complex liquid propellant rockets.