The Jiuquan Space Launch Center (JSLC) is China’s largest rocket facility and has hosted the launch of hundreds of surface-to-surface ballistic missiles and surface-to-air missiles, as well as China’s first and only missile-delivered nuclear test, and numerous remote sensing satellites.[2] Construction on the center began in 1958 with Soviet assistance, and it conducted its first ballistic missile test using a Soviet R-2 in 1960.[3] JSLC was originally known in the West as Base 20, or Shuang Cheng Tzu.[4] The majority of China’s initial missile testing and development work was conducted here up to about 1980.[5] Notable tests from the Launch Complex include the Dongfeng-4 intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM) as well as that of the Dongfeng-5, China’s first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).[6] Jiuquan is located in northwest Gansu province, and connected by railroad to the launch pads and technical centers across the border in Inner Mongolia.[7]

While still secured by the military, Jiuquan has become a launch site for the civilian satellite and manned space program, with its prior military functions moved elsewhere. The facility is used to launch low earth orbit (LEO) with LongMarch-2C, LongMarch-2D, and LongMarch-4 rockets, as well as solar synchronous orbit (SSO) satellites with the LongMarch-2F.[8]

In 1970 China launched its first satellite, the Dongfanghong, from this facility.[9] In 1999, it launched Shenzhou-1, the precursor shuttle to China’s manned space missions.[10] In March 2010, JSLC launched a Chinese Yaogan-9 surveillance satellite.[11]

The China Great Wall Industry Corporation, a subsidiary of the China Aerospace and Technology Corporation (CASC), markets Jiuquan commercial launch services to international customers.[12] Jiuquan completed is first successful international mission in 1992 when it launched a Swedish corporation’s scientific satellite.[13] Great Wall signed an agreement with Venezuela in 2005 and produced communication satellites which were launched from Jiuquan in 2005. In May 2011, Venezuela signed an additional agreement for launch services from Jiuquan for the Venezuela Remote-Sensing Satellite Project.[14]

In 2003, Jiuquan became the first spaceport to launch a Chinese-crewed space mission.[15] In September 2011, China launched a space laboratory module known as Tiangong -1 or “Heavenly Palace,” from JLSC.[16] Two months after Tiangong-1 was launched into orbit, China launched an unmanned space craft, the Shenzhou-8, which was the first Chinese space craft to dock with the International Space Station. This mission also included a series of bilateral space experiments with Germany.[17] In May 2012, JSLC launched China’s Tianhui I-02 mapping satellite using a Long March-2D rocket.[18] As part of China’s efforts to have a permanently manned space station by 2020, Jiuquan launched a manned spacecraft, called the Shenzhou-9, to rendezvous with the Tiangong-1 in June 2012 in order to test manual and remote dockings with the space station.[19]

Sources:
[1] “世界主要航天发射场: 酒泉卫星发射中心 [Global Important Launch Pad: Jiuquan Space Launch Center],” Sina Aerospace, 23 December 2009, http://mil.news.sina.com.cn.
[2] “Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre,” Jane’s Space Systems and Industry, 17 June 2011.
[3] “Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre,” SinoDefence.com, 29 October 2011, www.sinodefence.com; “Launch Sites: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center,” Great Wall Industry Corporation, www.cgwic.com.
[4] “Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre,” Jane’s Space Systems and Industry, 17 June 2011.
[5] Robert Norris, Andrew S. Burrows and Richard Fieldhouse, Nuclear Weapons Databook, Volume 5 (Boulder: Westview Press, 1994), p. 339.
[6] “Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre,” SinoDefence.com, 29 October 2011, www.sinodefence.com.
[7] “Launch Sites: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center,” Great Wall Industry Corporation, www.cgwic.com.
[8] Mark Stokes with Dean Cheng, “China’s Evolving Space Capabilities: Implications for U.S. Interests,” Project 2049, 26 April 2012, pp. 12-13, http://project2049.net.
[9] Robert Norris, Andrew S. Burrows and Richard Fieldhouse, Nuclear Weapons Databook, Volume 5 (Boulder: Westview Press, 1994), p. 339; and Stephen Chen, “Space City in the Desert Not so Secret; The Birthplace of the Nation’s Missile and Space Programmes – and Still One of the Most Active launch Pads – Has Become a lot More Transparent,” South China Morning Post, 20 June 2012.
[10] Stephen Chen, “Space City in the Desert Not so Secret; The Birthplace of the Nation’s Missile and Space Programmes – and Still One of the Most Active launch Pads – Has Become a lot More Transparent,” South China Morning Post, 20 June 2012.
[11] “Strategic Weapons Systems, China,” Jane’s Sentinel Security Assessment, 17 January 2011.
[12] “Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre,” Jane’s Space Systems and Industry, 17 June 2011.
[13] “Launch Sites: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center,” Great Wall Industry Corporation, www.cgwic.com.
[14] Mark Stokes with Dean Cheng, “China’s Evolving Space Capabilities: Implications for U.S. Interests,” Project 2049, 26 April 2012, p. 53, http://project2049.net.
[15] “Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre,” Jane’s Space Systems and Industry, 17 June 2011.
[16] “China's First Space Lab Module Tiangong-1 Blasts Off,” Xinhua, 29 September 2011, http://news.xinhuanet.com.
[17] “China’s Unmanned Spacecraft Shenzhou-8 Returns after Docking Mission,” Xinhua, 17 November 2011,  http://news.xinhuanet.com; Amy Svitak, “Sino-German Experiments to Fly on Next Unmanned Shenzhou,” Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, 1 November 2011.
[18] “China Launches New Mapping Satellite,” Xinhua, 6 May 2012,  http://news.xinhuanet.com.
[19] “China’s Central Authorities Congratulate Successful Shenzhou-9 Landing,” Xinhua, 29 June 2012,  http://news.xinhuanet.com; “China Voices Willingness for Aerospace Cooperation with U.S.,” Xinhua, 12 June 2012,  http://news.xinhuanet.com.