Beijing-based rocket maker Galactic Energy has successfully launched the CERES-1 Y16 carrier rocket on Monday, marking a significant milestone as China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025.
At precisely 6:11 p.m. on January 20, the CERES-1 Y16 rocket, on a mission aptly named \"On Your Shoulders,\" lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. The rocket carried and successfully delivered five satellites into a sun-synchronous orbit 535 kilometers above the Earth. These satellites include Yunyao-1 37~40 and JTX A-05, each designed to contribute to various technological and scientific advancements.
This launch not only marks the 16th successful mission for the CERES-1 rocket series, which has now placed a total of 63 satellites into their designated orbits, but also signifies 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 advanced instruments enable the acquisition of crucial atmospheric data such as temperature, humidity, pressure, and ionospheric electron density. The data collected has broad applications, including meteorological observation and the development of satellite internet constellation systems for industries like mining.
The JTX A-05 satellite features a hyperspectral camera payload capable of capturing detailed remote sensing images. This technology is valuable in numerous fields, including environmental monitoring, industrial emissions detection, gas leakage identification, agricultural surveillance, mineral exploration, forest management, and urban planning.
Meanwhile, Galactic Energy is forging ahead with ambitious projects. In Beijing, the company 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.
Adding to their innovative endeavors, the reusable rocket Pallas-1 has completed the development of most key technologies. Liu Baiqi, the founder and CEO of Galactic Energy, revealed at Airshow China 2024 that the Pallas-1 is expected to have 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
