China begins constructing commercial launch pad for solid rockets

HELSINKI — China has broken ground on a new launch pad dedicated to commercial solid rockets to help boost access to launch facilities. The new pad for solid rockets and its related infrastructure to provide power, test, and other facilities is expected to be finished within 180 days, China Space News, an official space sector outlet, reported June 14. The new project is part of the wider Hainan Commercial Launch Site for which two pads are currently under construction. One will be dedicated to kerolox launchers and another to methalox launch vehicles. The first launch of a liquid rocket from…