The Chang Zheng 4B (Long March 4B) is a medium-lift rocket within China's launch vehicle family.

Flying for the first time on May 10th, 1999, it has two locations from which it can launch, the Taiyuan and Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centers.

At Taiyuan, the rocket as two launch pads, LA-7 and LA-9. At Jiuquan, it has a single launch pad: SLS-2 (South Launch Site 2).

It is manufactured by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology.

Image credit: Xinhua

Launch Complex 3

LC-3 is one of two launch areas at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center.

The pad was completely rebuilt and upgraded between 2005 to 2006 for China's lunar exploration program.

It can currently launch the Chang Zheng 2, 2C, 3 and 3B rockets.

Xichang Satellite Launch Center

The center was built in the early 1980s and takes its name from the closest major city, Xichang, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China.

The space center is used to launch international scientific, civilian, and military satellites.

Xichang is not without controversy. In 1996, it was the site of a deadly launch accident when a rocket flew off course and crashed into an un-evacuated village 1.2 km away.

In 2007, it was used to launch an anti-satellite missile test which destroyed a satellite in low Earth orbit. The test created thousands of pieces of debris that were very hard to track and was criticized for the danger it potentially placed the crew of the International Space Station in.