In a significant leap for China's commercial space industry, Beijing-based rocket maker Galactic Energy successfully launched its CERES-1 Y16 carrier rocket on Monday, marking the nation's first commercial rocket launch of 2025.
The CERES-1 Y16 lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 6:11 p.m. on January 20. Dubbed the \"On Your Shoulders\" mission, the rocket delivered five satellites—including the Yunyao-1 37~40 and the JTX A-05—into a 535-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit.
This launch signifies the 16th successful flight of the CERES-1 rocket series, which has now transported 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 state-of-the-art research and development production base in Ziyang, Sichuan Province.
The quartet of Yunyao-1 satellites are equipped with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) occultation detection payloads. These advanced instruments enable the collection of critical atmospheric data, including temperature, humidity, pressure, and ionospheric electron density. Such capabilities hold vast potential for meteorological observation and the development of satellite internet constellation systems applicable to industries like mining.
The JTX A-05 satellite, on the other hand, carries a hyperspectral camera payload designed to capture high-resolution remote sensing images. Its applications span a diverse range of fields, including environmental monitoring, industrial emissions detection, gas leakage identification, agricultural surveillance, mineral exploration, forest management, and urban planning.
Meanwhile, Galactic Energy is propelling forward with the development of its next-generation rocket, the CERES-2, a solid carrier rocket boasting a payload capacity 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.
Additionally, the company's reusable rocket, the Pallas-1, has made significant strides, with most key technologies developed. As revealed by founder and CEO Liu Baiqi at Airshow China 2024, the Pallas-1 is expected to have its inaugural flight in the first half of this year.
Reference(s):
CERES-1 Soars: China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025
cgtn.com
