Under the clear skies of northwest China, Beijing-based rocket manufacturer Galactic Energy successfully launched its CERES-1 Y16 rocket on Monday, marking China’s first commercial rocket launch of 2025. The mission, aptly named “On Your Shoulders,” signals a significant stride in the nation’s burgeoning commercial space industry.
At precisely 6:11 p.m. on January 20, the CERES-1 Y16 carrier rocket blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. It soared into a 535-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit, delivering five satellites—including the Yunyao-1 37 to 40 and the JTX A-05—into their designated positions.
This launch marks the 16th successful mission for the CERES-1 rocket series, which has now delivered a total of 63 satellites into orbit. Notably, the CERES-1 Y16 is the first rocket manufactured and assembled at Galactic Energy’s new research and development and production base in Ziyang, Sichuan Province, highlighting the company’s expanding capabilities.
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. This data is invaluable for meteorological observations and holds promise for applications in satellite internet constellations for industries like mining.
The JTX A-05 satellite, on the other hand, is outfitted with a hyperspectral camera payload designed to capture high-resolution remote sensing images. The satellite’s capabilities are set to benefit numerous sectors, including environmental monitoring, industrial emissions detection, gas leakage identification, agricultural surveillance, mineral exploration, forest management, and urban planning.
Looking ahead, Galactic Energy is developing 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 expected to conduct four launches in 2025, with its maiden flight targeted for June.
Additionally, the company’s reusable rocket, the Pallas-1, has reportedly completed the development of most key technologies. Founder and CEO Liu Baiqi indicated at Airshow China 2024 that the Pallas-1 is expected to have its maiden flight in the first half of this year, signaling another leap forward in China’s commercial space endeavors.
Reference(s):
CERES-1 Soars: China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025
cgtn.com
