In a landmark event for China's 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 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 rocket delivered five satellites, including the Yunyao-1 37~40 satellites and the JTX A-05 satellite, into a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 535 kilometers. This mission brings the total number of CERES-1 launches to 16, with a cumulative total of 63 satellites successfully placed into predetermined 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. This milestone underscores the company's expanding capabilities and the growing maturity of China's private aerospace sector.
The four Yunyao-1 satellites are equipped with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) occultation detection payloads. These instruments enable the acquisition of critical atmospheric data, including temperature, humidity, pressure, and ionospheric electron density. The satellites hold significant potential for applications in meteorological observation and the development of satellite internet constellation systems for industries such as mining.
The JTX A-05 satellite, carrying a hyperspectral camera payload, is set to enhance remote sensing capabilities. Its applications span a wide range of 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's reusable rocket, the Pallas-1, has made significant progress, having completed the development of most key technologies. Founder and CEO Liu Baiqi announced at Airshow China 2024 that the Pallas-1 is expected to have its maiden flight in the first half of this year. The development of reusable launch vehicles like the Pallas-1 represents a significant step forward in reducing the cost of access to space and promoting sustainable space exploration.
Reference(s):
CERES-1 Soars: China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025
cgtn.com
