Whenever rocket launches are mentioned, most people think of Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA. There are, however, several prominent launch facilities around the world serving the global spaceflight industry.
An orbital rocket launch facility, also commonly referred to as a spaceport or cosmodrome, is a large area consisting of one or multiple launchpads from where rockets can launch into orbit. It typically also houses support structures like vehicle assembly buildings, fuel depots, and control centers.
Readers from countries in the “Western world” will be familiar with the Mercury and Apollo programs that put American astronauts in space and eventually on the Moon. As a result, Kennedy Space Center & Cape Canaveral in Florida became households as launch facilities.
However, readers from Russia and the former Soviet Union will be quick to point out that the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan was the first launch facility in the world to put the first artificial satellite and, shortly thereafter, the first human (cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin) into orbit.
Not too long after the Space Race between the two countries ended, other countries from around the world started developing their own space programs and corresponding launch facilities. After the turn of the century, private companies began joining this exclusive club.
A rocket launch facility, also referred to as a spaceport or cosmodrome, is a large area consisting of one or multiple launchpads from where rockets can launch into orbit. It typically also houses support structures like vehicle assembly buildings, fuel depots, and control centers.
In some instances, a rocket launch facility can also refer to any site designed and capable of launching suborbital rockets and Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM), but “spaceports and cosmodromes” exclusively refer to facilities capable of launching vehicles into orbit.
(It also has to be noted that not all orbital rocket launch facilities are capable of human or crewed spaceflight. In fact, only three countries have the facilities and launch vehicles to send humans into Space, which you can learn more about in this in-depth article.)
This article also exclusively focuses on launch facilities capable of launching satellites and/or humans into space and orbit. The following is a list of the most prominent and active orbital rocket launch sites around the world:
United States Of America
- Kennedy Space Center
- Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
- Wallops Flight Facility
- Vandenberg Space Force Base
- Pacific Spaceport Complex
Russia
- Baikonur Cosmodrome (Kazakhstan)
- Plesetsk Cosmodrome
- Vostochny Cosmodrome
European Union
- Guiana Space Center
China
- Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
- Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center
- Xichang Satellite Launch Center
- Wenchang Satellite Launch Center
India
- Satish Dhawan Space Center
New Zealand
- Rocket Lab Launch Complex One
Iran
- Semnan Space Center
- Shahroud Space Center
Japan
- Uchinoura Space Center
- Tanegashima Space Center
Israel
- Palmachim Air Force Base
South Korea
- Naro Space Center
North Korea
- Sohae Satellite Launching Station
To get a better idea of each launch site’s role, its location, and the type of launch vehicles it supports, one needs to take a closer look at each individually:
Kennedy Space Center
Situated on Merritt Island, Florida, Kennedy Space Center is NASA’s primary launch facility in the United States. Construction of the facility commenced in 1962 after President John F. Kennedy announced the United State’s intention to land a man on the Moon by 1970.
Located next to Cape Canaveral Space Force Base (with which it shares many facilities), it was originally known as the NASA Launch Operations Center before being given its current name by President Lyndon Johnson on 29 November 1963.
Many of the important landmarks in the United States Space Program took place at Kennedy Space Center. From the Saturn V rockets that first landed astronauts on the lunar surface to the Space Shuttle, all launched from this launch location.
Currently, SpaceX is leasing the iconic Launch Complex 39A to launch its Falcon 9 & Heavy rockets for satellite and crewed flights.
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Also situated on Merritt Island, Florida, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station serves as the headquarters for the United States Armed Forces space service branch.
Built in 1941 and originally named the Joint Long Range Proving Ground, the base was renamed several times before being assigned the name “Cape Canaveral Space Force Station” after the establishment of the United States Space Force in December 2019.
Like its neighbor, Kennedy Space Center, the facility also has a rich history, with the first US satellite, Explorer 1, launching from the complex in 1958.
The first US astronaut in space, Alan Shepard, also lifted off from Cape Canaveral in 1961, as well as the first US astronaut to orbit the planet, John Glenn, in 1962.
Currently, Cape Canaveral is the primary launch facility for the United Launch Alliance (ULA), from where they launch their Atlas V and Delta IV Heavy launch vehicles.
Wallops Flight Facility
Located on Wallops Island, Virginia, Wallops Flight Facility was established in 1945 and originally named the Pilotless Aircraft Research Center. It is currently operated by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland.
It has facilitated more than 16 000 rocket launches from its testing range since its formation in 1945. It primarily serves as a launch facility for sounding rockets and orbital flights for NASA, NOAA, and other agencies in the United States.
The facility currently serves as the primary launch site for the Antares rocket, an orbital launch vehicle designed by Orbital Sciences (now Northrop Grumman) and used for resupply missions to the International Space Station (ISS) through its Cygnus spacecraft.
Vandenberg Space Force Base
Located in Santa Barbara County in California, Vandenberg Space Force Base serves as the primary launch facility for the United States “Western Range.” Originally named Cook Air Force Base, the name was changed in 1988 after general Hoyt Vandenberg.
It is used by the United States Space Force as a missile testing range but is also utilized for civil and commercial orbital launches by organizations like NASA, SpaceX, and the ULA (United Launch Alliance).
Notable launch vehicles making use of this facility include SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, as well as the United Launch Alliance’s Delta IV Heavy and Atlas V.
(The Falcon Heavy and Delta IV Heavy are currently the two largest orbital launch vehicles in service. One can have a look at a list of the 30 largest orbital rockets ever launched. past and present, you can read the full article here.)
Pacific Spaceport Complex
Formerly known as the Kodiak Space Complex, the Pacific Spaceport Complex is situated on Kodiak Island, Alaska. It is owned and operated by the Alaska Aerospace Corporation.
Construction of the launch site started early in 1998, and the first successful orbital took place on 30 September 2001, when an Athena-1 rocket (manufactured by Lockheed Martin) carried out the Kodiak mission for NASA, launching four satellites into orbit.
The complex is also the primary launch site for Astra, an aerospace company, from where they launch their “Rokect 3” launch vehicle.
Baikonur Cosmodrome
When it comes to historical significance and importance, few launch sites can compete with Baikonur Cosmodrome. Situated in the south of Kazakhstan, the complex is not only one of the oldest orbital launch facilities in the world, but it is also steeped in history.
Founded in June 1955 by the Soviet Ministry Of Defense, Baikonur was the site from where the world’s first artificial satellite was launched into orbit. On 4 October 1957, the Sputnik 1 satellite launched atop a Sputnik 8K71PS launch vehicle, orbiting the planet for 22 days.
On 12 April 1961, Yuri Gagarin launched on a Vostok 1 rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome and completed one orbit of the Earth, becoming the first human (cosmonaut) to travel into space and orbit the planet.
After the Soviet Union was dissolved on 26 December 1991, Russia continued to use the launch facility and is currently leasing the site from Kazakhstan (until 2050). It is operated by Roscosmos, Russia’s state-owned space agency.
All crewed Russian space missions launch from this spaceport, which is also the primary launch facility for one of the most successful orbital rockets in the history of spaceflight, the Soyuz launch vehicle.
Plesetsk Cosmodrome
Russia’s Plesetsk Cosmodrome is situated in the town of Mirny, Arkhangelsk Oblast, approximately 800 km (497 miles) north of Moscow. It was established in 1957 and is operated by Roscosmos, Russia’s state-owned space agency.
The launch facility used to be Russia’s secondary launch complex since it is located too far north for typical orbital launches. But since the fall of the Soviet Union, it has seen a lot more activity as its primary launch complex, Baikonur Cosmodrome is located in Kazakhstan.
It is primarily used for military activities like ballistic missile testing and satellite launches since all crewed flights still launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome. However, the space agency’s new Angara rocket was designed to launch primarily from Plesetsk Cosmodrome.
Vostochny Cosmodrome
Established on 1 August 2011, Vostochny Cosmodrome is Russia’s latest space launch facility and is located in Amur Oblast in the far eastern region of Russia. It is operated by Russia’s state-owned space agency, Roscosmos.
Its location at a much lower latitude than Plesetsk Cosmodrome puts it almost on par with Baikonur Cosmodrome’s launch capabilities since it is much closer to the equator. This enables Russia to perform more orbital launches from its own sovereign territories.
(Since the breakup of the Soviet Union, Russia had to lease the Baikonur Cosmodrome from Kazakhstan, where it is located, which expires in 2050. This was one of the main driving forces for the construction of the Vostochny Cosmodrome)
The first orbital launch from the new complex took place on 28 April 2016, when a Soyuz-2 rocket placed the Mikhailo Lomonosov satellite in orbit. The complex will support up to seven launch pads and also support the Angara rocket, Russia’s latest launch vehicle.
Guiana Space Center
The Guiana Space Center is the primary launch facility for the European Space Agency (ESA). It is situated in French Guiana (territory of France in South America), northwest of Kourou. It was established on 14 March 1964.
The location of the facility close to the Equator makes it ideal for orbital launches. Notable launch vehicles include the European Space Agency’s workhorse, the Ariane 5, as well as Russia’s Soyuz rocket, operating from the ELS complex located in the Sinnamary territory.
Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
China’s oldest launch complex, the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, is situated in Dongfeng Aerospace City in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia. Established in 1958, the complex is primarily used as a missile test range and for launching spacecraft into low to medium Earth orbits.
In 1970, the country’s first satellite, the Dong Fang Hong-1, was launched from the facility, and it was also the site from where the first Chinese crewed mission, the Shenzhou 5, took place on 15 October 2003.
Private space agencies, including i-Space and Onespace, started using the facility in 2018, and on 25 July 2019, the first private orbital flight launched from the complex.
Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center
Established in March 1966, Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center is situated in the northwest of Shanxi province in the People’s Republic Of China.
It operates a range of orbital launch vehicles, including the Chang Zheng 4C and Long March 6 rockets, and is particularly suited for missions to low or sun-synchronous orbit.
Xichang Satellite Launch Center
China’s Xichang Satellite Launch Center is located in Zeyuan Town and is used for launching a combination of military and civil payloads into orbit. The launch complex achieved operational status in 1984.
The country’s first lunar orbiter, the Chang’e 1, launched from the facility and marked the beginning of China’s lunar exploration program. It is also the location from where the March-3C rocket made its maiden voyage on 25 April 2008 and serves as its primary launch site.
Wenchang Satellite Launch Center
Chosen for its low latitude, which allows it to carry bigger payloads into orbit, the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center is located in Wenchang City in Hainan. Although construction of the site was completed in October 2014, the first launch only took place on 25 June 2016.
The facility’s location away from the mainland allows China’s Long March 5 heavy-lift launch vehicle to be transported via seaport and launched from the complex. (The railway tracks on the mainland are too narrow to transport the 5-meter-wide booster sections of the rocket.)
Satish Dhawan Space Center
Satish Dhawan Space Center is India’s primary space launch facility and is located on the island of Sriharikota. It was established on 1 October 1971 and is operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
The space agency’s Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3) and Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) use the facility as their primary base. The Satish Dhawan Space Center is also earmarked to host the launch of the country’s first crewed spacecraft, the Gaganyaan.
Rocket Lab Launch Complex One
New Zealand’s only space launch facility is located on the southern tip of the Māhia Peninsula and is owned & operated by Rocket Labe, a privately-owned launch vehicle manufacturer. On 21 January 2018, it achieved its first successful orbital launch.
Semnan Space Center
Semnan Space Center is Iran’s primary space launch facility. It is located 50 km (31 miles) southeast of the city of Semnan. It was established on 1 February 2004 and is operated by the Iranian Space Agency.
On 16 August 2008, Iran launched its first satellite, the DemoSat, into orbit atop a Safir-1 launch vehicle. Since then, the facility has undergone several expansions and currently houses multiple launchpads.
Shahroud Space Center
Built in the late 1980s, the Shahroud Space Center is Iran’s second-largest spaceport, located southeast of Shahroud Semnan Province. It is primarily used as a military facility and is run by the IRGCASF (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force).
It is primarily used to launch solid-fueled rockets with military satellites as the payload into orbit. In 2020, a Qased rocket successfully launched Iran’s first military satellite, the Noor 1.
Uchinoura Space Center
The Japanese launch site is situated in the town of Kimotsuki, Kagoshima Prefecture. It is the oldest of Japan’s two orbital launch facilities and was established in February 1962.
It served as the primary launch site for the now-retired M-V launch vehicles, as well as the Epsilon orbital rockets also launched from the facility. It is currently mainly used for suborbital flights.
Tanegashima Space Center
Situated on Tanegashima Island, approximately 40 km (25 miles) south of Kyushu, Tanegashima Space Center is Japan’s largest space launch complex. It was founded in 1969 and is run by the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
The H-IIA rocket is the primary launch vehicle (developed by JAXA) used at the facility and undertook its maiden orbital voyage on 29 August 2001.
Palmachim Air Force Base
Serving as both a military facility and spaceport, Palmachim Air Force Base is located on the Mediterranean coast near the cities of Rishon LeZion and Yavne. It is Israel’s primary orbital launch facility and is operated by the Israeli Air Force.
The site was built during the 1970s and hosted Israel’s first successful orbital launch on 19 September 1988, when a Shavit rocket placed an experimental load into orbit.
Apart from its orbital launch capabilities, the facility is also the primary test site for the Jericho II ballistic missiles and home to the Arrow Missile Defense System.
Naro Space Center
South Korea’s primary launch facility, the Naro Space Center, is located in South Jeolla’s Goheung County. It is operated by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, the country’s state-owned aerospace agency.
Opened on 11 June 2009, the launch site is equipped with two launchpads and support structures, including vehicle assembly & test facilities, a control tower, and a media center.
Its first successful orbital launch took place on 30 January 2013, when a Naro-1 rocket managed to put a satellite into orbit. Another milestone was reached on 21 June 2022 when the facility launched the country’s first locally developed rocket, called the Nuri, into orbit.
Sohae Satellite Launching Station
North Korea’s Sohae Satellite Launching Station is situated in Cholsan County, North Pyongan. Although the exact date of its establishment is unclear, signs of its construction could be detected as early as the early 1990s.
North Korea’s space program was heavily criticized by Western countries, and the launch site was seen as a front for its Intercontinental Ballistic Missile program. Under pressure from US officials, Kim Jong-un agreed to dismantle the site, which took place in 2018.
After talks between the two countries broke down in 2019, the North Korean government started rebuilding the launch site, and it has been confirmed that it is currently active.
To date, only one successful satellite launch, the Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit satellite, was recorded (although a lack of communication & little transparency from the North Korean government makes it hard to determine what other launches might have taken place).
Conclusion
The 22 launch facilities chosen in this article are by no means the only major rocket launch sites in the world, but they do represent the most significant spaceports which are currently active (or up to recently at the very least) and carry a large amount of historical significance.
This article was originally published on headedforspace.com. If it is now published on any other site, it was done without permission from the copyright owner.
