In a landmark achievement for China's commercial space industry, Beijing-based rocket maker Galactic Energy successfully launched the CERES-1 Y16 rocket on Monday, marking the nation's first commercial rocket launch of 2025.
The CERES-1 Y16 carrier rocket blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 6:11 p.m. on January 20, on a mission aptly named \"On Your Shoulders.\" The rocket delivered five satellites—including the Yunyao-1 37~40 and the JTX A-05—into a 535-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit.
This launch signifies a significant milestone for Galactic Energy, as it represents the 16th successful mission of the CERES-1 rocket series, which has now sent a total of 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, enabling the acquisition of critical atmospheric data such as temperature, humidity, pressure, and ionospheric electron density. These satellites hold broad application prospects in meteorological observation and the verification of satellite internet constellation systems for industries like mining.
The JTX A-05 satellite carries a hyperspectral camera payload designed to capture high-resolution remote sensing images. This technology has wide-ranging applications across multiple fields, including environmental monitoring, industrial emissions detection, gas leakage identification, agricultural surveillance, mineral exploration, forest management, and urban planning.
Meanwhile, in Beijing, Galactic Energy continues to advance its space ambitions with the development of the CERES-2, a solid carrier rocket boasting 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.
Furthermore, the company's reusable rocket, the Pallas-1, has reportedly completed the development of most key technologies and is anticipated to have its maiden flight in the first half of this year. This information was shared by the founder and CEO, Liu Baiqi, at Airshow China 2024.
Reference(s):
CERES-1 Soars: China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025
cgtn.com
