Beijing-based rocket maker Galactic Energy achieved a milestone on Monday with the successful launch of the CERES-1 rocket, marking China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025.
At 6:11 p.m. on January 20, a CERES-1 Y16 carrier rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on a mission dubbed \"On Your Shoulders.\" The rocket delivered five satellites—the Yunyao-1 37~40 satellites and the JTX A-05 satellite—into a 535-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit.
To date, the CERES-1 rocket series has completed 16 launches, sending 63 satellites into their designated orbits. Notably, the CERES-1 Y16 is the first rocket manufactured and assembled at Galactic Energy'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. These instruments enable the acquisition of data on atmospheric temperature, humidity, pressure, and ionospheric electron density. The satellites hold broad application prospects in meteorological observation and the verification of demonstration scenarios for satellite internet constellation systems for industries such as mining.
The JTX A-05 satellite is outfitted with a hyperspectral camera payload to acquire remote sensing images. These images can be applied in 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 capability 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. The company's reusable rocket, the Pallas-1, has already completed the development of most key technologies and is expected to have its maiden flight in the first half of this year, according to founder and CEO Liu Baiqi at the Airshow China 2024.
Reference(s):
CERES-1 Soars: China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025
cgtn.com
