Beijing-based private aerospace company Galactic Energy has successfully launched its 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 aptly named \"On Your Shoulders.\" The CERES-1 Y16 carried five satellites into a 535-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit, including the Yunyao-1 37 to 40 satellites and the JTX A-05 satellite.
This launch signifies the 16th mission for the CERES-1 rocket series, which has now sent a total of 63 satellites into their designated orbits. Notably, the CERES-1 Y16 is the first rocket to be manufactured and assembled at Galactic Energy's new-generation research and development and production base in Ziyang, Sichuan Province.
The quartet of Yunyao-1 satellites are equipped with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) occultation detection payloads, enabling the acquisition of data on atmospheric temperature, humidity, pressure, and ionospheric electron density. These satellites hold significant potential for applications in meteorological observation and serve as verification platforms for satellite internet constellation systems in industries such as mining.
The JTX A-05 satellite, on the other hand, is outfitted with a hyperspectral camera payload designed to capture remote sensing images. This technology can be applied across various fields, 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 scheduled to conduct four launches in 2025, with its maiden flight targeted for June.
Additionally, the company's reusable rocket, the Pallas-1, has completed the development of most key technologies. Liu Baiqi, the founder and CEO of Galactic Energy, shared at the Airshow China 2024 that 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
