Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Co., Ltd., or HICAL, is a Chinese state-owned company that operates the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site, China's first commercial spaceport. Established in 2022, HICAL is the first commercially incorporated company in China to independently own and manage a spaceport.
History
Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Co., Ltd. (HICAL) was incorporated on June 2, 2022. The company is jointly funded by the Hainan Provincial Government and three state-owned aerospace contractors: China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, and China Satellite Network Group. HICAL was established with a starting capital of RMB 1.5 billion.[2]
On July 6, 2022, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site, which is China's first commercial space launch complex, and which is fully funded, constructed and operated by HICAL.[3] Launch Complex 1 was completed in December 2023 and Launch Complex 2 is expected to be completed in 2024.[4][3]
References
- ^ Wei, An; Xu, Shuyang. "火箭"工位"准备中 海南商业航天发射场项目最新进展" (in Chinese). China Central Television. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
- ^ "海南国际商业航天发射有限公司". www.iguopin.com. 国聘. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ a b Su, Jiede; Liu, Mengxiao. "海南国际商业航天发射中心今年将实现首发". www.hi.chinanews.com.cn (in Chinese (China)). China News Service. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
- ^ Liu, Mengxiao; Peng, Qinglin. "海南国际商业航天发射中心一号发射工位竣工-新华网". hq.news.cn (in Chinese (China)). Xinhua. Retrieved 30 March 2024.