In a significant milestone for China's commercial space industry, Beijing-based rocket maker Galactic Energy successfully launched the CERES-1 Y16 carrier rocket on Monday, marking the nation's first commercial rocket launch of 2025.
The CERES-1 Y16 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 rocket delivered five satellites—including Yunyao-1 37~40 and JTX A-05—into a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 535 kilometers.
This launch signifies the 16th successful 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 four 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 have broad applications in meteorological observation and hold potential for verifying demonstration scenarios for satellite internet constellation systems in industries such as mining.
The JTX A-05 satellite carries a hyperspectral camera payload designed to capture remote sensing images. The data collected can be applied across multiple fields, including environmental monitoring, industrial emissions detection, gas leakage identification, agricultural surveillance, mineral exploration, forest management, and urban planning.
Meanwhile, 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 scheduled to conduct four launches in 2025, with its maiden flight targeted for June.
The company's reusable rocket, the Pallas-1, has also completed the development of most key technologies. Galactic Energy's founder and CEO, Liu Baiqi, announced at Airshow China 2024 that the Pallas-1 is expected to have its maiden flight in the first half of this year.
These developments underscore China's growing capabilities in the commercial space sector and Galactic Energy's commitment to advancing rocket technology. The successful launch of the CERES-1 Y16 and the upcoming projects position the company as a significant player in the global space industry.
Reference(s):
CERES-1 Soars: China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025
cgtn.com
