Beijing-based rocket manufacturer Galactic Energy has successfully launched the CERES-1 Y16 carrier rocket, marking China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025.
At 6:11 p.m. on January 20, the CERES-1 Y16 rocket blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on a mission dubbed \"On Your Shoulders.\" The rocket delivered five satellites, including Yunyao-1 37~40 and JTX A-05, into a sun-synchronous orbit approximately 535 kilometers above Earth.
This launch signifies the 16th mission for the CERES-1 rocket series, which has now successfully placed 63 satellites into their designated orbits. Notably, the CERES-1 Y16 is the first rocket produced at Galactic Energy's new research and development and production facility in Ziyang, Sichuan Province.
The four Yunyao-1 satellites are equipped with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) occultation detection payloads. These instruments allow for the collection of atmospheric temperature, humidity, pressure, and ionospheric electron density data, which have significant applications in meteorological observation and satellite internet constellation systems for industries such as mining.
The JTX A-05 satellite carries a hyperspectral camera payload designed to acquire remote sensing images. This technology can be utilized 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 is advancing the development of 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 learned from founder and CEO Liu Baiqi at Airshow China 2024.
Reference(s):
CERES-1 Soars: China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025
cgtn.com
