International commercial launch center preparing for maiden mission

Construction of the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Center has been completed in Wenchang, a coastal city in Hainan province, after nearly two years of work, the center said in a news release.

The center's second launch service tower was completed on Thursday, and engineers have begun to prepare it for its maiden launch mission — the debut flight of the Long March 12 carrier rocket.

Construction of the No 2 tower started in October 2022. It is capable of servicing more than 10 types of liquid-propellant carrier rockets, including those in the Long March family and models developed by private companies, the center said.