In a significant milestone for China's commercial space industry, Beijing-based rocket maker Galactic Energy successfully launched its CERES-1 Y16 carrier rocket on January 20, 2025. The rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 6:11 p.m., marking the country's first commercial rocket launch of the year.
The mission, aptly named \"On Your Shoulders,\" saw the CERES-1 Y16 rocket deliver five satellites into a 535-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit. Among the payload were the Yunyao-1 37~40 satellites and the JTX A-05 satellite.
This launch signifies the 16th successful mission for 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 Galactic Energy's new-generation research and development and production base in Ziyang, Sichuan Province.
Advancing Satellite Technology
The four Yunyao-1 satellites are equipped with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) occultation detection payloads. These advanced instruments enable the acquisition of crucial atmospheric data, including temperature, humidity, pressure, and ionospheric electron density. The satellites hold significant promise for meteorological observation and have applications in verifying demonstration scenarios for satellite internet constellation systems, particularly in industries such as mining.
The JTX A-05 satellite, on the other hand, is fitted with a hyperspectral camera payload designed to capture high-resolution remote sensing images. This technology is versatile, offering applications across environmental monitoring, industrial emissions detection, gas leakage identification, agricultural surveillance, mineral exploration, forest management, and urban planning.
Looking Ahead: Future Launches and Developments
Meanwhile, Galactic Energy is progressing with the development of the CERES-2, a solid carrier rocket boasting a payload capability of 1.6 tonnes. According to Meng Xianbo, the company's Chief Government Affairs Officer, the CERES-2 is slated to conduct four launches in 2025, with its maiden flight targeted for June.
The company's reusable rocket, the Pallas-1, has also achieved significant advancements, having completed the development of most key technologies. During the Airshow China 2024, Galactic Energy's founder and CEO, Liu Baiqi, revealed that the Pallas-1 is expected to have its maiden flight in the first half of this year.
The successful launch of the CERES-1 Y16 not only underscores the rapid progress of China's commercial space sector but also highlights Galactic Energy's growing role in advancing space technology and exploration.
CGTN's Zhao Chenchen and Zhang Haoyudi also contributed to this story.
Reference(s):
CERES-1 Soars: China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025
cgtn.com
