Wenchang to build aerospace supercomputing center

Technology experts check the condition of the Tianhe-1 supercomputer at the National SuperComputer Center in Tianjin. [Photo/Xinhua]

The city government of Wenchang, home of China's first tropical and coastal space launch center, announced recently that it plans to build an aerospace supercomputing center and a big data industry cluster project in the near future.

A key part of Wenchang's program for developing a space science and technology city, the supercomputing center will help promote coordinated industrial growth of local information technology, aerospace equipment research and design, as well as life science research through the application of high-performance computing, cloud computing, big data and artificial intelligence, a document from the city government said.

When completed, the supercomputing center will play an important role in promoting the country's satellite application research and development, the application of high-resolution data and development of a big data industry around spatial information.

The city will also help build an industrial platform for spatial big data and a spatial remote-sensing cloud big data platform to serve countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, city officials said.

Wenchang is on the eastern coast of Hainan Island about 80 kilometers from Haikou, the provincial capital.

Also included in Wenchang's program for developing a space science and technology city are an international space launch center, research and development bases and platforms for international exchanges and cooperation. They will promote the construction of commercial launch stations and development of high-end aerospace products.

Wenchang has also included an "aerospace plus" industry demonstration park in its space city program. It is expected to promote the development of a space theme park; applications for space science; research in space breeding; biological, pharmaceutical and aerospace medical research; and innovation development.

Construction of the projects will be open to social and private funds, the city said.

With operations beginning in 2016, the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center - located about 19 degrees north of the equator - is suitable for launching geosynchronous satellites, heavyweight satellites, large space station components and lunar and interplanetary missions.