In a landmark achievement for China's burgeoning commercial space industry, Beijing-based rocket maker Galactic Energy successfully launched the CERES-1 Y16 carrier rocket on Monday, marking the first commercial rocket launch in China for 2025.
The CERES-1 Y16 blasted 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 rocket delivered five satellites—Yunyao-1 37 to 40 and the JTX A-05—into a sun-synchronous orbit 535 kilometers above the Earth.
This launch signifies a significant milestone for Galactic Energy. The CERES-1 series has now completed 16 launches, successfully sending 63 satellites into their designated orbits. Notably, the CERES-1 Y16 is the first rocket manufactured and assembled at the company's new-generation research and development and production base in Ziyang, Sichuan Province.
The four Yunyao-1 satellites are equipped with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) occultation detection payloads. This advanced technology enables the collection of critical atmospheric data, including temperature, humidity, pressure, and ionospheric electron density. The satellites hold vast potential for applications in meteorological observation and the advancement of satellite internet constellation systems, particularly in industries such as mining.
The JTX A-05 satellite carries a hyperspectral camera payload designed to acquire high-resolution remote sensing images. These images are crucial for a variety of sectors, including environmental monitoring, industrial emissions detection, gas leakage identification, agricultural surveillance, mineral exploration, forest management, and urban planning.
Looking ahead, 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 key technologies and is anticipated to have its maiden flight in the first half of this year, as shared by founder and CEO Liu Baiqi at Airshow China 2024.
The successful launch of CERES-1 Y16 not only demonstrates China's growing capabilities in commercial spaceflight but also paves the way for future advancements in satellite technology and reusable rockets. As Galactic Energy continues to innovate, the global space industry watches closely, anticipating the impact of these developments on international space exploration and commercial satellite applications.
Reference(s):
CERES-1 Soars: China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025
cgtn.com
