Rocket launch siteFrom Wikipedia , the free encyclopedia ( Redirected from Rocket launch sites ) Jump to : navigation , searchIt has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Space port . ( Discuss ) A rocket launch site or launch complex is a facility at which rocket launches are conducted . It has usually one or more launch pads or suitable sites to mount a transportable launch pad . For launch vehicles with liquid propellant , suitable storage facilities and , in some cases , production facilities are necessary . on - site processing facilities for solid propellants are also common . A launch site usually has an associated rocket range , which covers a much larger area than the launch site , over which the rockets are expected to fly . Contents [ hide ] 1 Overview 2 Launch sites for orbital launch vehicles 3 Launch sites for suborbital rockets in Europe 3 . 1 Abandoned launch sites in Europe 4 Launch sites for suborbital rockets in Asia 5 Launch sites for suborbital rockets in Africa 6 Launch sites for suborbital rockets in Oceania 7 Launch sites for suborbital rockets in North America 8 Launch sites for suborbital rockets in South America 9 Launch sites for suborbital rockets in polar regions and islands far away from continents 10 Launch sites used for rockets with low maximum altitude ( < 10 km ) 11 References 12 External links 13 See also [ edit ] OverviewA rocket launch site is built as far as possible away from major population centers in order to mitigate risk to bystanders should a rocket experience a catastrophic failure . In many cases a launch site is built close to major bodies of water to ensure that no components are shed over populated areas . Orbital launch vehicle sites for satellites and interplanetary probes are called spaceports . The best known spaceports are Cape Canaveral in Florida , Vandenberg Air Force Base in California , Russia ' s Baikonur in Kazakhstan and Kourou in French Guyana . Spaceports are usually constructed as close to the equator as possible , as launching near Earth ' s equator allows rockets launching eastbound to receive extra velocity from Earth ' s rotation , allowing them to potentially carry a greater payload . In Europe , outside of Russia , there are only launch sites for suborbital rockets . Andøya Rocket Range , Esrange and Salto di Quirra are the most important . While Germany currently possesses no launch sites due to its relatively small size and high population density , prior to 1945 the Nazi German government utilized several launch sites in continental Europe . These were : from 1936 to 1945 , Peenemünde [ 1 ] , for flight tests of the A 4 - ballistic missile ; from 1957 to 1964 , the mud - flats near Cuxhaven , where the Hermann Oberth society and the Berthold - Seliger - Forschungs - und Entwicklungsgesellschaft launched many rocket designs as the Kumulus and the Cirrus [ 2 ] ; and from 1988 to 1992 , in Zingst , where there was a launch site for Russian vehicles of the type MMR 06 - M [ 3 ] . In the 1970 s Poland launched suborbital sounding rockets of the type Meteor from military training camps near Łeba and Ustka . [ edit ] Launch sites for orbital launch vehiclesAlcântara ( Brazil ) Baikonur Cosmodrome ( Kazakhstan ) Cape Canaveral Air Force Station ( USA ) Gando ( Spain , Gran Canaria ) Hammaguir ( Algeria , no longer operational ) Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center ( China ) Kapustin Yar ( Russia ) Kennedy Space Center ( USA ) Kodiak Launch Center ( USA , Alaska ) Kourou ( French Guiana ) Kwajalein ( USA , Atoll in the Pacific ) Mid - Atlantic Regional Spaceport ( USA , Virginia ) Palmachim ( Israel ) Plesetsk ( Russia ) Point Arguello ( USA ) Satish Dhawan Space Centre ( India ) San Marco Platform ( Italy , in the Indian Ocean ) Sea Launch Platform ( USA , in the Pacific Ocean ) Svobodny ( Russia ) Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center ( China ) Tanegashima Space Center ( Japan ) Tongch ' ang - dong Space Launch Center ( DPRK ) Uchinoura Space Center near Kagoshima ( Japan ) Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre ( India ) Vandenberg Air Force Base ( USA ) Wallops Island ( USA ) Wenchang Satellite Launch Center ( China ) Woomera ( Australia ) Xichang Satellite Launch Center ( China ) [ edit ] Launch sites for suborbital rockets in EuropeAberporth ( UK ) Andøya Rocket Range ( Norway ) Biscarrosse ( France ) El Arenosillo ( Spain ) Esrange ( Sweden ) Ile de Levant ( France ) Nenoksa ( Russia ) Salto di Quirra ( Italy ) South Uist ( UK ) SvalRak ( Norway ) [ edit ] Abandoned launch sites in EuropeBlizna ( Poland ) Cuxhaven ( Germany ) Karystos ( Greece ) Koroni ( Greece ) Łeba ( Poland ) Kronogård ( Sweden ) Marka ( Norway ) The Needles ( United Kingdom ) NAMFI ( Greece ) Peenemünde / Greifswalder Oie ( Germany ) Tuchola Forest ( Poland ) Ustka ( Poland ) Vik ( Iceland ) Zingst ( Germany ) [ edit ] Launch sites for suborbital rockets in AsiaAkita ( Japan ) Al Anbar ( Iraq ) Anhueng ( South Korea ) Balasore ( India ) Chiha - ri ( North Korea ) Chio He AFB ( Taiwan ) Dombarovskiy ( Russia ) Emamshahr ( Iran ) Emba ( Kazakhstan ) Gan Island ( Maldives ) Gohueng ( South Korea ) Haikou ( China ) Hama - Allepo ( Syria ) Harbin ( China ) Jingyu ( China ) Jiu Peng ( Taiwan ) Kheysa ( Russia ) Laogang ( China ) Lapan Space Center , Tjulitan ( Indonesia ) Musudan - ri ( North Korea ) Negev ( Israel ) Niijima ( Japan ) Novaya Zemlya ( Russia ) Obachi ( Japan ) Okhotsk ( Russia ) Qom ( Iran ) Pameungpeuk ( Indonesia ) Ryori ( Japan ) Sary Shagan ( Russia ) Satish Dhawan Space Centre ( India ) Shijiedu ( China ) Sonmiani ( Pakistan ) Sovetskaya Gavan ( Russia ) Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre ( India ) Tilla ( Pakistan ) [ edit ] Launch sites for suborbital rockets in AfricaNouadhibou ( Mauretania ) Overberg ( South Africa ) Reggane ( Algeria ) Seba Oasis ( Libya ) Shaba North ( Democratic Republic of the Congo ) [ edit ] Launch sites for suborbital rockets in OceaniaAnna Plains ( Australia ) Carnarvon ( Australia ) Birdling ' s Flat ( New Zealand ) Lancelin ( Australia ) Woomera ( Australia ) [ edit ] Launch sites for suborbital rockets in North AmericaArecibo ( Puerto Rico ) Barter Island ( USA ) Black Rock Desert ( USA ) Black Mesa ( USA ) Charlestown , Rhode Island ( USA ) Com Range ( USA ) Cape Parry ( Canada ) Cold Lake ( Canada ) Datil ( USA ) Eareckson ( USA , Aleut islands ) East Quoddy ( Canada ) Eglin Air Force Base ( USA ) Fort Bliss ( USA ) Fort Churchill ( Canada ) Fort Greely ( Alaska ) Fort Sherman ( USA ) Fort Wingate ( USA ) Fort Yukon ( USA ) Gillam ( Canada ) Gilson Butte ( USA ) Grand Turk IslandGreen River ( USA ) Hall Beach ( Canada ) Holloman ( USA ) Keweenaw ( USA ) Little Carter Bay ( Bahamas ) Mid - Atlantic Regional Spaceport ( Virginia ) Mercury ( USA ) Mojave Spaceport ( USA ) NAOTS ( USA ) Nevada Test Site ( USA ) North Truro Air Force Station ( USA ) Point Barrow ( Alaska ) Point Mugu ( USA ) Poker Flat Research Range ( Alaska ) Primrose Lake ( Canada ) Ramey ( Puerto Rico ) Red Lake ( Canada ) Resolute Bay ( Canada ) San Clemente ( USA , California ) San Nicolas Island ( USA , California ) Santiago Ixcuintla ( Mexico ) Sheboygan , Wisconsin , USA Sierra de Juarez ( Mexico ) Southend ( Canada ) Tonopah Test Range ( USA ) Upham ( USA ) Yuma ( USA ) White Sands ( USA ) [ edit ] Launch sites for suborbital rockets in South AmericaAlcântara ( Brazil ) CELPA ( Peru ) Chilca ( Peru ) Coronie ( Surinam ) Las Palmas ( Argentina ) Mar Chiquita ( Argentina ) Natal ( Brazil ) Praia do Cassino ( Brazil ) Puente del Inca ( Argentina ) Punta Lobos ( Peru ) }} Tartagal ( Argentina ) Villa Reynolds ( Argentina ) [ edit ] Launch sites for suborbital rockets in polar regions and islands far away from continentsAscension Island ( Atlantic island ) Barking Sands ( Pacific island ) Base Matienzo ( Antarctica ) Bigen Island ( Marshall Islands ) Bikini Atoll ( Atoll in the Pacific , launches in conjunction with nuclear bomb tests ) Cape Karikari ( New Zealand ) Dumont d ' Urville ( Antarctica ) Eniwetok ( Atoll in the Pacific , launches in conjunction with nuclear bomb tests ) GuamJohnston Atoll ( Pacific island ) Kerguelen ( South Pacific island ) Kindley Air Force Base ( Bermuda islands ) McMurdo Station ( Antarctica ) Molodyozhnaya ( Antarctica ) } Rarotonga ( Cook Islands ) Rothera ( Antarctica ) Siple ( Antarctica ) Sondre Stromfjord ( Greenland ) Syowa Base ( Antarctica ) SvalRak ( Ny - Ålesund , Svalbard , Norway , operated by Andøya Rocket Range ) Vicecomodoro Marambio Station ( Antarctica ) Wake Island ( Pacific island ) [ edit ] Launch sites used for rockets with low maximum altitude ( < 10 km ) Kummersdorf , Germany ( 1933 ) Camp de Suippes , France ( 1950 - 1951 ) Hespenbusch , Großenkneten , Germany ( 1952 - 1957 ) Kaltbrunn , Switzerland ( Rocketry of ARGOS ) Le Cardonnet , France ( 1952 ) Rocket Launch Site Berlin , Berlin - Tegel , Germany ( 1930 - 1934 ) Sauwald , Germany ( former launch site for rockets for lightning research near Füssen ) Kepler Launch Site , Weil der Stadt Vernon , France [ edit ] References ^ Description and map of Peenemünde – astronautix . com ^ Rocket tests at Cuxhaven – astronautix . com ^ Rocket launches at Zingst – astronautix . com [ edit ] External linksOverview of rocket launch sites worldwide – astronautix . com Kennedy Space Center , Cape Canaveral – nasa . gov Description and map of Cape Canaveral – astronautix . com Baikonur – russianspaceweb . com Description and map of Baikonur – astronautix . com Description and map of Kourou – astronautix . com Rocket launch site Kiruna – astronautix . com Homepage of Esrange – ssc . se Rocket launch site Salto di Quirra – astronautix . com [ edit ] See alsoList of spaceports List of spaceportsFrom Wikipedia , the free encyclopediaJump to : navigation , searchThis article needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding reliable references ( ideally , using inline citations ) . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . ( January 2008 ) It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Rocket launch site . ( Discuss ) The following is a list of spaceports , sorted by geographical location . Actual ownership and operation is noted in the notes column where it differs from geographical location . Contents [ hide ] 1 Africa 2 Asia 3 Europe 4 North America 5 South America 6 Oceania 7 Open ocean 8 See also 9 References [ edit ] A f r i c a C o u n t r y L o c a t i o n O p e r a t i o n a l d ateNotesAlgeriaHammaguira French Special Weapons Test Centre , Hammaguir 1952 – 1967 Operated by France . Launched unmanned satellites into Earth orbit . [ 1 ] Congo ( Zaire ) Kapani Tonneo OTRAG Launch Center 1977 – 1978 Launched rockets to the upper atmosphere . Operated by private German company OTRAG . [ 2 ] KenyaBroglio Space Centre ( San Marco ) , Malindi 1964 – 1988 Operated by ASI and University of Rome " La sapienza "( Italy ) . Launched unmanned satellites into Earth orbit with scout rocket . [ 3 ] South AfricaOverberg South African Test Centre 1989 – 1990 Launched test mission rockets only . [ 4 ] LibyaTawiwa OTRAG Launch Center 1981 – 1982 Launched test mission rockets only . Operated by private German company OTRAG . [ 5 ] [ edit ] A s i a C o u n t r y L o c a t i o n O p e r a t i onaldateNotesChinaJiuquan Satellite Launch Center 1970 – presentLaunched manned missions . [ 6 ] ChinaTaiyuan Satellite Launch Center 1980 – presentUsed for polar orbit satellites . [ 7 ] ChinaWenchang Satellite Launch Center 2014 [ 8 ] Under construction , intended for the Chinese manned lunar program . [ 9 ] ChinaXichang Satellite Launch Center 1984 – presentUsed for geo - synchronous satellites and unmanned lunar probes . [ 10 ] [ 11 ] IndiaSatish Dhawan Space Centre ( Sriharikota ) , Andhra Pradesh 1971 – presentLaunched unmanned satellites and lunar probes ; planned for future manned missions into Earth orbit . [ 12 ] IndiaVikram Sarabhai Space Centre , Thiruvananthapuram 1962 – 2000 , 2002 – presentPreviously launched unmanned satellites ; currently launches only sounding rockets . [ 13 ] IranEmamshahr Space Center 1998 Iranian military testing range and sounding rocket launch site of the Iranian Space Agency . [ 14 ] IranQom Space Center 1991 Military testing range . [ 15 ] IraqAl - Anbar Test Centre 1989 Out of function . Intended for launch of unmanned satellites into Earth orbit . [ 16 ] IsraelPalmachim Air Force Base 1987 – presentLaunched unmanned satellites into Earth orbit . [ 17 ] JapanTanegashima Space Center , Tanegashima Island 1967 – presentLaunched unmanned satellites into Earth orbit . [ 18 ] JapanUchinoura Space Center 1962 – presentLaunched unmanned satellites into Earth orbit . [ 19 ] KazakhstanBaikonur Cosmodrome , Tyuratam 1957 – presentLaunched first manned rocket to Earth orbit . Operated by Russia . [ 20 ] Korea , NorthMusudan - ri 1998 – presentLaunched military rockets ; claimed satellite launch into Earth orbit . [ 21 ] Korea , NorthTongch ' ang - dong Space Launch Center 2009 New satellite launch center under construction . [ 22 ] Korea , SouthNaro Space Center 2008 Intended for launches of unmanned satellites into Earth orbit . [ 23 ] PakistanSonmiani Launch Center , Las Bela , BalochistanEarly 1960 s – present [ 24 ] Sounding rocket launch site and missile testing range ; intended for launches of unmanned satellites into Earth orbit by SUPARCO . [ 25 ] RussiaSvobodny Cosmodrome , Amur Oblast 1957 – presentICBM base converted for launches of unmanned satellites into Earth orbit . [ 26 ] RussiaYasny Cosmodrome ( Dombarovskiy ) , Orenburg Oblast 2006 – presentICBM base converted for launches of unmanned satellites into Earth orbit . [ 27 ] SingaporeSingapore spaceport 2009 ( planned ) Under construction . Sub - orbital space tourism flights for Space Adventures . [ 28 ] UAERas Al Khaimah spaceport ( ? ) Proposed . Sub - orbital space tourism flights . Space Adventures / Prodea joint venture . [ 29 ] [ edit ] EuropeNote that some European countries operate spaceports in Africa , South America , or other equatorial regions . These spaceports are listed in this article according to their geographical location . Some Russian - controlled launch sites are listed as being in Asia . C o u n t r y L o c a t i o n O p e r a t i onaldateNotesNorwayAndøya Rocket Range 1962 – presentLaunched unmanned rockets into upper atmosphere . [ 30 ] RussiaKapustin Yar Cosmodrome , Astrakhan Oblast 1957 – presentLaunched unmanned satellites into Earth orbit . No longer used for such launches . [ 31 ] RussiaPlesetsk Cosmodrome , Arkhangelsk Oblast 1957 – presentSince 1966 has launched unmanned satellites into Earth orbit . [ citation needed ] SwedenEsrange Rocket Centre , Kiruna 1966 – presentLaunch site for sounding rockets and stratospheric balloons , originally operated by the European Space Research Organisation ( ESRO ) and later the Swedish Space Corporation . [ 32 ] SwedenSpaceport Sweden , KirunaProposedFor launch of space tourists by Virgin Galactic . [ 33 ] [ edit ] North A m e r i c a C o u n t r y L o c a t i o n O p e r ationaldateNotesUSAKodiak Launch Complex , Alaska 1998 – presentBallistic missile interceptor tests and satellite launches . Operated by the Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation . [ 34 ] USAMojave Spaceport , California 2004 – presentPrivately funded spaceflights ( SpaceShipOne ) . USAVandenberg Air Force Base , California 1950 s – presentGovernment and commercial satellite launches ; ballistic missile tests . [ 35 ] USACape Canaveral Air Force Station , Florida 1950 s – presentLaunched commercial and U . S . Government unmanned missions . USAKennedy Space Center , Florida 1963 – presentLaunched NASA ' s manned missions . Adjacent to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station . USAArea 51 , Nevada Test and Training Range 1950 s – presentSub - orbital launches of sounding rockets and test vehicles . [ 36 ] USASpaceport America , Upham , New Mexico 2006 – presentSub - orbital commercial and planned space tourist launches . Joint venture between state of New Mexico and Virgin Galactic . [ 37 ] [ 38 ] USAOklahoma Spaceport , Burns FlatProposedPlanned space tourism and privately funded flights . Operated by the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority ( OSIDA ) . [ 39 ] [ 40 ] USACorn Ranch , Van Horn , TexasProposedPlanned space tourism flights . Privately owned and operated by Blue Origin . USAWallops Flight Facility , Delmarva Peninsula , Virginia 1945 – presentNow operated by NASA ' s Goddard Space Flight Center , primarily for sub - orbital and small orbital launches , testing and research . [ 41 ] USAMid - Atlantic Regional Spaceport ( MARS ) , Delmarva Peninsula , Virginia 2006 – presentOperates in partnership with NASA , adjacent to the Wallops Flight Facility site . Designed for both commercial and government launches . [ 42 ] USASpaceport Sheboygan , Wisconsin , ProposedProposed private space flights . CanadaCape Breton Spaceport ( aka Cape Breton Space Center ) , Nova ScotiaProposedProposed space tourism and low orbit courier service flights . Operated by PlanetSpace Inc . [ 43 ] CanadaCape Rich , LFCATC Meaford , OntarioProposedA second launch site that has been proposed by PlanetSpace . [ 44 ] CanadaFort Churchill / Spaceport Canada , Manitoba 1957 – 58 , 1995 – 98 Launched suborbital sounding rockets in the 1950 s , operated by the Canadian Army . A 1990 s private proposal to redevelop as " Spaceport Canada " for commercial satellite launches did not come to fruition . [ 45 ] GreenlandThuleProposed [ citation needed ] Thule Air Base used by the US Air Force for suborbital sounding rocket launches from 1964 to 1980 . [ 46 ] [ edit ] South A m e r i c a C o u n t r y L o c a t i o n O p e r a t i o n a ldateNotesBrazilAlcantara Launch Center , Maranhão 1990 – presentOperated by the Brazilian Air Force / Brazilian Space Agency . Planned satellite launches . French GuianaGuiana Space Centre , Kourou 1968 – presentOperated by the French CNES for the European Space Agency ; launch base for Arianespace . Has launched a variety of commercial and governmental orbital craft . [ edit ] O c e a n i a C o u n t r y L o c a t i o n O p e r a t i o n a l dateNotesAustraliaWoomera , South Australia 1950 s – presentOriginally a joint British / Australian government research facility , used for missile testing and satellite launches . More recent private plans to revive the facility by SpaceLift Australia and Kistler Aerospace have failed to come to fruition . AustraliaChristmas IslandProposedPlanned 1990 s development of Christmas Island Spaceport by private Australian company Asia Pacific Space Centre did not go ahead . [ 47 ] The island was used in 2002 / 2003 by the National Space Development Agency of Japan ( NASDA ) , now part of JAXA , for tests of a proposed space shuttle . [ 48 ] AustraliaCape York SpaceportProposedFormerly proposed as site for Russian Zenit launches . [ 49 ] [ 50 ] Marshall IslandOmelek 1950 s - presentStarted as ICBM launch facility , is currently operated by SpaceX for Falcon launch ; like Alcântara Launch Center and Guiana Space Centre is one of spaceport closest to the equator . [ edit ] Open o c e a n F a c i l i t y OperationaldateNotesOcean Odyssey complex 1999 – presentMobile satellite launch platform operated by private company Sea Launch . Uses a converted oil platform that plies between Long Beach , California , where a rocket is collected , and the equator , where the rocket is launched from the platform . Russian Delta class submarines 1998 – presentLaunch of unmanned satellites into Earth orbit via converted SLBM missile Shtil from the Barents Sea . [ edit ] See alsoRocket launch sites [ edit ] References ^ Hammaguira – astronautix . com ^ Kapani Tonneo – astronautix . com ^ San Marco – astronautix . com ^ Overberg – astronautix . com ^ Tawiwa – astronautix . com ^ Jiuquan – astronautix . com ^ Taiyuan – astronautix . com ^ China to use jumbo rocket for delivery of lunar rover , space station , People ' s Daily online , March 11 , 2008 ^ China ' s 4 th Satellite Launch Center to Be Built in Hainan – CHINA . ORG . CN ^ "“ 嫦娥 一号 ” 发 射 时 间 确 定 但 未到 公布 时 机 ". XINHUA online . July 7 , 2007 . http : / / news 3 . xinhuanet . com / tech / 2007 - 07 / 07 / content _ 6340313 . htm . Retrieved on August 2 . ^ Xichang – astronautix . com ^ Sriharikota – astronautix . com ^ Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre ( VSSC ) , ISRO ^ Emamshahr – astronautix . com ^ Qom – astronautix . com ^ Al Anbar – astronautix . com ^ Palmachim – astronautix . com ^ Tanegashima – astronautix . com ^ Kagoshima – astronautix . com ^ Baikonur – astronautix . com ^ Musudan – astronautix . com ^ " 消息 人士 ： 朝 鲜 试 验 远 程 导 弹 发 动 机 ". 俄 罗 斯 新 闻 网 . 2008 - 09 - 16 . http : / / rusnews . cn / guojiyaowen / guoji _ anquan / 20080916 / 42269572 . html . Retrieved on September 16 2008 . ^ Goheung – astronautix . com ^ Missile Facilities – Flight Test Range , Sonmiani Beach , NTI ^ Sonmiani – astronautix . com ^ Svobodniy – astronautix . com ^ Dombarovskiy – astronautix . com ^ Spaceport Singapore ^ Space Adventures Announces $ 265 Million Global Spaceport Development Project , Space Adventures , February 17 , 2006 ^ Andoya – astronautix . com ^ Kapustin Yar – astronautix . com ^ Kiruna – astronautix . com ^ Spaceport Sweden ^ Kodiak Launch Complex , AADC ^ Vandenberg – astronautix . com ^ Nevada Test Site – astronautix . com ^ spaceportamerica . com ^ Spaceport America – astronautix . com ^ Oklahoma Spaceport website ^ Spaceport Oklahoma Licensed by FAA , SpecRef . com , October 15 , 2001 ^ Wallops Flight Facility ( NASA ) ^ Mid - Atlantic Regional Spaceport website ^ PlanetSpace still plans to blast - off from Cape Breton , chairman says , CBC News , February 21 , 2008 ^ Rocketeers pick Canadian launch site , MSNBC , June 2 , 2005 ^ Fort Churchill – astronautix . com ^ Thule AFB – astronautix . com ^ Christmas Island – astronautix . com ^ High Speed Flight Demonstration project ( HSFD ) , JAXA ^ Spaceports Around the World : Australia ' s Woomera and Weipa Spaceports , spacetoday . org ^ Cape York – astronautix . com