Beijing-based rocket maker Galactic Energy made history on Monday with the successful launch of its CERES-1 Y16 rocket, marking China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025. The 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 CERES-1 Y16 carried five satellites into a 535-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit, including the Yunyao-1 37~40 satellites and the JTX A-05 satellite. This launch signifies a significant milestone for Galactic Energy, as it brings the total number of satellites delivered by the CERES-1 rocket series to 63 over 16 successful launches.
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. This advancement underscores China's growing capabilities in commercial space exploration and satellite deployment.
The four Yunyao-1 satellites are equipped with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) occultation detection payloads, enabling them to collect vital data on atmospheric temperature, humidity, pressure, and ionospheric electron density. These satellites have broad applications in meteorological observation and could play a pivotal role in the development of satellite internet constellation systems for industries such as mining.
The JTX A-05 satellite, featuring a hyperspectral camera payload, will acquire remote sensing images applicable in various fields, 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 is making strides with its reusable rocket, the Pallas-1. As reported by the founder and CEO, Liu Baiqi, at the Airshow China 2024, the Pallas-1 has completed the development of most key technologies and is slated for its maiden flight in the first half of this year.
Reference(s):
CERES-1 Soars: China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025
cgtn.com
