In a significant milestone for China's burgeoning commercial space industry, Beijing-based rocket manufacturer Galactic Energy successfully launched the CERES-1 Y16 carrier rocket on January 20, 2025. Blasting off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 6:11 p.m., the mission, aptly named \"On Your Shoulders,\" marks the nation's first commercial rocket launch of the year.
The CERES-1 Y16 rocket carried five satellites into a 535-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit. Among them were the Yunyao-1 37 to 40 satellites, equipped with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) occultation detection payloads. These advanced instruments enable the acquisition of vital atmospheric data, including temperature, humidity, pressure, and ionospheric electron density. Such data hold significant promise for applications in meteorological observation and the development of satellite internet constellation systems, particularly for industries like mining.
Also aboard was the JTX A-05 satellite, outfitted with a hyperspectral camera payload designed to capture high-resolution remote sensing images. This technology has broad applications across multiple fields, including environmental monitoring, industrial emissions detection, gas leakage identification, agricultural surveillance, mineral exploration, forest management, and urban planning.
The successful launch of the CERES-1 Y16 marks the 16th mission for the CERES-1 rocket series, which has now deployed a total of 63 satellites into their designated orbits. Notably, the Y16 rocket is the first to be manufactured and assembled at Galactic Energy's new-generation research and development and production base in Ziyang, Sichuan Province.
Looking ahead, Galactic Energy is making significant strides in rocket development. In Beijing, the company is working on 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 slated for its maiden flight in June 2025, with a total of four launches planned for the year.
Furthermore, Galactic Energy's reusable rocket, the Pallas-1, has reportedly completed the development of most key technologies. The company's founder and CEO, Liu Baiqi, indicated that the Pallas-1 is expected to make its maiden flight in the first half of this year, signaling a new era in China's commercial space endeavors.
Reference(s):
CERES-1 Soars: China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025
cgtn.com
