Beijing-based rocket maker Galactic Energy made history on Monday with the launch of the CERES-1 Y16 carrier rocket, marking China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025. The rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 6:11 p.m. on January 20 on a mission dubbed \"On Your Shoulders.\"
The CERES-1 Y16 successfully delivered five satellites into a 535-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit. The payload included the Yunyao-1 37 to 40 satellites and the JTX A-05 satellite. This mission brings the total number of satellites launched by the CERES-1 series to 63 across 16 successful launches.
Significantly, the CERES-1 Y16 is the first rocket manufactured and assembled at Galactic Energy's new-generation research and development production base in Ziyang, Sichuan Province. This advancement marks a milestone in China's commercial space industry, showcasing increased capabilities in rocket manufacturing and satellite deployment.
The four Yunyao-1 satellites are equipped with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) occultation detection payloads. These enable the acquisition of atmospheric temperature, humidity, pressure, and ionospheric electron density data. The satellites have broad applications in meteorological observation and can aid in verifying satellite internet constellation systems for industries such as mining.
The JTX A-05 satellite carries a hyperspectral camera payload designed to capture remote sensing images. This technology has applications in environmental monitoring, detecting industrial emissions, identifying gas leaks, agricultural surveillance, mineral exploration, forest management, and urban planning.
Meanwhile, Galactic Energy is progressing with the development of the CERES-2, a solid carrier rocket with a payload capability 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.
The company's reusable rocket, the Pallas-1, has also made significant strides. Founder and CEO Liu Baiqi announced that the Pallas-1 has completed the development of most key technologies and is expected to have its maiden flight in the first half of this year. This reusable rocket represents a major step forward in reducing the cost of access to space and increasing the frequency of launches.
Galactic Energy's recent achievements highlight China's rapidly growing commercial space sector and its ambitions to become a major player in space exploration and satellite deployment.
Reference(s):
CERES-1 Soars: China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025
cgtn.com
