On January 20, China's private aerospace company Galactic Energy achieved a milestone with the launch of the CERES-1 Y16 carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. Lifting off at 6:11 p.m., the mission, dubbed \"On Your Shoulders,\" marks China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025.
The CERES-1 Y16 rocket successfully delivered five satellites, including the Yunyao-1 37~40 and the JTX A-05 satellites, into a 535-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit. This launch brings the total number of satellites sent into orbit by the CERES-1 series to 63 across 16 missions.
Significantly, the CERES-1 Y16 is the first rocket manufactured and assembled at Galactic Energy's new-generation research and development and production base in Ziyang, Sichuan Province. This advancement demonstrates China's growing capabilities in commercial spaceflight and the increasing role of private enterprises in the nation's space endeavors.
The four Yunyao-1 satellites are equipped with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) occultation detection payloads. These instruments are designed to collect data on atmospheric temperature, humidity, pressure, and ionospheric electron density. The information gathered holds promising applications in meteorological observation and could support satellite internet constellation systems for various industries, including mining.
The JTX A-05 satellite carries a hyperspectral camera payload capable of acquiring detailed remote sensing images. Its data will be valuable in fields such as 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 with a payload capacity of 1.6 tonnes. According to the company's Chief Government Affairs Officer, Meng Xianbo, 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 completed the development of most key technologies and is anticipated to have its inaugural flight in the first half of this year, as shared by founder and CEO Liu Baiqi at Airshow China 2024.
Reference(s):
CERES-1 Soars: China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025
cgtn.com
