Beijing-based rocket maker Galactic Energy successfully launched its CERES-1 Y16 carrier rocket on Monday, marking China'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 on a mission dubbed \\"On Your Shoulders.\\"
The CERES-1 Y16 rocket delivered five satellites into a 535-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit, including the Yunyao-1 37 to 40 satellites and the JTX A-05 satellite. This launch brings the total number of satellites sent into orbit by the CERES-1 rocket series to 63 over 16 successful launches.
Notably, the CERES-1 Y16 is the first rocket manufactured and assembled in Galactic Energy's new research and development and production base in Ziyang, Sichuan Province. The base represents a significant step forward in China's commercial space industry, enhancing the country's capacity for independent rocket development.
The four Yunyao-1 satellites are equipped with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) occultation detection payloads. These payloads enable the collection of atmospheric data such as temperature, humidity, pressure, and ionospheric electron density. The satellites have broad applications in meteorological observation and can assist in verifying demonstration scenarios for satellite internet constellation systems, particularly in the mining industry.
The JTX A-05 satellite carries a hyperspectral camera payload designed to acquire remote sensing images. The data collected can be applied across multiple fields, including environmental monitoring, industrial emissions detection, gas leakage identification, agricultural surveillance, mineral exploration, forest management, and urban planning.
Meanwhile, Galactic Energy 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 expected to conduct four launches in 2025, with its maiden flight targeted for June. Additionally, the company's reusable rocket, the Pallas-1, has completed the development of most key technologies and is expected to have its maiden flight in the first half of this year, as learned from founder and CEO Liu Baiqi at Airshow China 2024.
