In a significant milestone for China's burgeoning commercial space sector, Beijing-based rocket maker Galactic Energy successfully launched the CERES-1 Y16 carrier rocket on January 20, marking the nation's first commercial rocket launch of 2025.
The CERES-1 Y16 blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 6:11 p.m. local time on a mission aptly named \"On Your Shoulders.\" The rocket delivered five satellites into a sun-synchronous orbit 535 kilometers above Earth, including the Yunyao-1 37-40 satellites and the JTX A-05 satellite.
This launch brings the total number of satellites delivered by the CERES-1 series to 63 across 16 successful missions. Notably, the CERES-1 Y16 is the first rocket produced at Galactic Energy's new state-of-the-art research and development facility in Ziyang, Sichuan Province, showcasing the company's expanding manufacturing capabilities.
The four Yunyao-1 satellites are equipped with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) occultation detection payloads. These advanced instruments enable the collection of critical atmospheric data such as temperature, humidity, pressure, and ionospheric electron density. The data has broad applications in meteorological observations and can aid in developing satellite internet constellations for industries like mining.
The JTX A-05 satellite, equipped with a hyperspectral camera payload, will acquire high-resolution remote sensing images. This technology serves multiple sectors, including environmental monitoring, industrial emissions detection, gas leakage identification, agricultural surveillance, mineral exploration, forest management, and urban planning.
Meanwhile, Galactic Energy is making strides in developing its next-generation launch vehicles. The CERES-2, a solid carrier rocket with a payload capacity of 1.6 tonnes, is slated for its maiden flight in June 2025. According to Meng Xianbo, the company's Chief Government Affairs Officer, the CERES-2 is expected to conduct four launches next year.
Additionally, the company is advancing its reusable rocket technology with the Pallas-1. Having completed the development of most key technologies, the Pallas-1 is expected to have its inaugural flight in the first half of this year, as confirmed by founder and CEO Liu Baiqi at Airshow China 2024.
Reference(s):
CERES-1 Soars: China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025
cgtn.com
