Beijing-based rocket maker Galactic Energy has marked a significant milestone with the launch of its CERES-1 rocket on Monday, heralding China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025.
At 6:11 p.m. on January 20, the CERES-1 Y16 carrier rocket blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on a mission aptly named \"On Your Shoulders.\" The rocket successfully delivered five satellites into a 535-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit, including the Yunyao-1 37~40 satellites and the JTX A-05 satellite.
To date, the CERES-1 rocket series has completed 16 launches, sending 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-generation research and development base in Ziyang, Sichuan Province.
The four Yunyao-1 satellites are equipped with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) occultation detection payloads. These instruments enable the acquisition of critical atmospheric data such as temperature, humidity, pressure, and ionospheric electron density. The satellites hold promising applications in meteorological observation and in demonstrating satellite internet constellation systems for industries like mining.
The JTX A-05 satellite carries a hyperspectral camera payload designed to capture remote sensing images. This technology has versatile applications across various fields, including environmental monitoring, industrial emissions detection, gas leakage identification, agricultural surveillance, mineral exploration, forest management, and urban planning.
Meanwhile, Galactic Energy continues to push the boundaries of space technology. In Beijing, the company is developing 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 expected 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 progress. As reported by founder and CEO Liu Baiqi at Airshow China 2024, 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.
