In a historic milestone for China's commercial space industry, Beijing-based rocket maker Galactic Energy successfully launched its CERES-1 Y16 carrier rocket on Monday, marking the country's first commercial rocket launch of 2025. The rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 6:11 p.m. on January 20, embarking on a mission aptly named \"On Your Shoulders.\"
The CERES-1 Y16 rocket delivered five satellites into a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 535 kilometers. Among the payload were the Yunyao-1 37 to 40 satellites and the JTX A-05 satellite, each serving vital roles in advancing satellite technology and applications.
This launch signifies the 16th mission for the CERES-1 rocket series, which has now successfully sent 63 satellites into their designated orbits. Notably, the CERES-1 Y16 is the first rocket to be manufactured and assembled at Galactic Energy's new state-of-the-art research and development and production facility in Ziyang, Sichuan Province.
The four Yunyao-1 satellites are equipped with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) occultation detection payloads. These advanced instruments enable the satellites to collect critical data on atmospheric temperature, humidity, pressure, and ionospheric electron density. Such data are indispensable for meteorological observation and hold promising applications in industries like mining through the development of satellite internet constellation systems.
The JTX A-05 satellite, carrying a hyperspectral camera payload, is set to acquire high-resolution remote sensing images. The satellite's capabilities extend across numerous fields, including environmental monitoring, detection of industrial emissions, gas leakage identification, agricultural surveillance, mineral exploration, forest management, and urban planning.
Meanwhile, Galactic Energy continues to push the boundaries of space technology. The company is developing the CERES-2, a solid carrier rocket with a payload capacity of 1.6 tonnes. According to Meng Xianbo, the company's Chief Government Affairs Officer, the CERES-2 is scheduled for four launches in 2025, with its maiden flight targeted for June.
In addition, Galactic Energy's reusable rocket, the Pallas-1, has achieved significant milestones. Founder and CEO Liu Baiqi revealed at Airshow China 2024 that the Pallas-1 has completed the development of most key technologies and is expected to undertake its maiden flight in the first half of this year.
Reference(s):
CERES-1 Soars: China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025
cgtn.com
