Google Unmasks Xichang - ASAT Pad Visible?

[Ed Kyle]

In the past day or so, Google removed the censored "gray-out" region
that masked out China's Xichang launch center, from where the recent
ASAT test may have been launched. I provided links in the following
message list.

"http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums/thread-view.asp?
tid=6463&posts=18&mid=115775#M115775"

- Ed Kyle

[Ed Kyle]

To be more specific, Google Maps/Earth has unmasked the infamous self-
censored "gray box" that previously hovered just south of the XiChang
launch pads. The box appears to have covered a massive construction
project for either a new rail line or a new, low-gradient heavy-duty
roadway, complete with at least one long tunnel. The line appears to
stop in the mountains south of the Long March pads.

"http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=28.207344+N,
101.975398+E&ie=UTF8&om=1&z=13&ll=28.212449,101.997242&spn=0.067617,0.173035&t=k&iwloc=addr"

In addition, there appears to be a new flat pad located near the
older, conventional Long March pads. This looks a lot like some of the
Russian mobile transporter/erector/launcher pads I've seen in photos.

"http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=28.249064+N,
102.023613+E&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=28.249263,102.02386&spn=0.002074,0.005364&t=k&om=0&iwloc=addr"

Could this be the ASAT launch pad?

- Ed Kyle

[Ed Kyle]

O.K. To make this easier, since these are cumbersome links, search
for the following
lat/long coordinates in Google Maps with the satellite view on:

For the really big construction project that leads to this location:
28.207 N,101.974E

And for the newish-looking flat pad:
28.249064 N,102.023613 E

- Ed Kyle

[Jim Oberg]

Nice work, Ed.

One way us good guys wind up winning a lot is we
keep trying the knobs on doors that used to be locked,
until the bad guys forget one day....

"Ed Kyle" <edky...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1172547432....@z35g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...

[Greg D. Moore (Strider)]

"Jim Oberg" <job...@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
news:45e48287$0$5733$4c36...@roadrunner.com...

> Nice work, Ed.
>
> One way us good guys wind up winning a lot is we
> keep trying the knobs on doors that used to be locked,
> until the bad guys forget one day....
>

That's also how the bad guys win.

But they're also willing after awhile to take a sledge to the knock.

Not really sure what your point here was.

>
>
> "Ed Kyle" <edky...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1172547432....@z35g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
>> On Feb 26, 9:19 pm, "Ed Kyle" <edkyl...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>> On Feb 26, 9:13 pm, "Ed Kyle" <edkyl...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>

--
Greg Moore
SQL Server DBA Consulting
sql (at) greenms.com http://www.greenms.com

[Rand Simberg]

On Tue, 27 Feb 2007 21:16:01 GMT, in a place far, far away, "Greg D.
Moore \(Strider\)" <mooregr_d...@greenms.com> made the phosphor
on my monitor glow in such a way as to indicate that:

>
>"Jim Oberg" <job...@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
>news:45e48287$0$5733$4c36...@roadrunner.com...
>> Nice work, Ed.
>>
>> One way us good guys wind up winning a lot is we
>> keep trying the knobs on doors that used to be locked,
>> until the bad guys forget one day....
>>
>
>That's also how the bad guys win.
>
>But they're also willing after awhile to take a sledge to the knock.
>
>Not really sure what your point here was.

It does seem like a strange comment, Jim. That's what Sovietologists
used to say about the Soviets. They were like thieves in a hotel,
going along each floor and turning doorknobs until they found one that
was unlocked.

[pbr...@netburner.com]

Very interesting that its detailed in google maps, but not yet in google earth.
I always thought they used the same data,

Paul

[Pat Flannery]

pbr...@netburner.com wrote:
>> In addition, there appears to be a new flat pad located near the
>> older, conventional Long March pads. This looks a lot like some of the
>> Russian mobile transporter/erector/launcher pads I've seen in photos.
>>
>> "http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=28.249064+N,
>> 102.023613+E&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=28.249263,102.02386&spn=0.002074,0.005364&t=k&om=0&iwloc=addr"
>>
>> Could this be the ASAT launch pad?
>>

They are intending to build new, larger space boosters in the
Proton/Ariane V class in the fairly near future; could this be initial
pad work for those?

Pat

[Ed Kyle]

On Feb 27, 1:10 pm, "Jim Oberg" <job...@houston.rr.com> wrote:
> Nice work, Ed.

Thanks! Now, do me a favor, Jim and everyone else, and peer through
this cloud. I think this may actually be the destination of the new
roadway (and the reason I say roadway rather than railway now is due
to the tight 200 foot-ish radius curves on the upgrade).

28.199903 N, 101.963189 E

What destination could such a one-way road, requiring such an
obviously massive effort, have? It is about 8 km south of the
existing pad complexes. Could it be a new launch pad? A tracking
radar? An observatory? Why build whatever this is here, in the
mountains, rather than at the northern desert sites where construction
would be cheaper?

- Ed Kyle

[Ed Kyle]

I was wondering the same thing, but wasn't the recently announced
oceanside launch site on Hainan Island reported to be for the big new
launcher?

- Ed Kyle

[Ed Kyle]

I notice that there is a growing pile of gravel building up at
this location. There is a possibility, I must admit, that this
could be the portal to a really long tunnel beneath the
mountains, leading west.

- Ed Kyle

[Pat Flannery]

Ed Kyle wrote:
>
> What destination could such a one-way road, requiring such an
> obviously massive effort, have?
>

Their new rockets:
http://english.people.com.cn/200510/18/eng20051018_215027.html
http://english.people.com.cn/200510/18/eng20051018_215027.html
http://www.astronautix.com/articles/china.htm
They intend to build large boosters in the Proton/Ariane 5 category
within the next few years for both manned and commercial missions.
They're going to need a place to lift off from.
This is that place.

Pat