In a landmark achievement for China's commercial space sector, Beijing-based rocket maker Galactic Energy successfully launched the CERES-1 Y16 carrier rocket on January 20. Blasting off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 6:11 p.m., the mission, dubbed \"On Your Shoulders,\" marked the first commercial rocket launch in China for 2025.
The CERES-1 Y16 rocket delivered five satellites into a 535-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit. Among them were the Yunyao-1 37~40 satellites and the JTX A-05 satellite. This launch signifies a significant milestone as 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.
The Yunyao-1 satellites are equipped with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) occultation detection payloads. These advanced instruments enable the acquisition of vital atmospheric data, including temperature, humidity, pressure, and ionospheric electron density. Such data have broad applications in meteorological observation and hold promise for satellite internet constellation systems in industries like mining.
The JTX A-05 satellite carries a hyperspectral camera payload designed to capture high-resolution remote sensing images. Its capabilities extend to environmental monitoring, industrial emissions detection, gas leakage identification, agricultural surveillance, mineral exploration, forest management, and urban planning.
To date, the CERES-1 rocket series has completed 16 launches, sending 63 satellites into their designated orbits. Meanwhile, Galactic Energy is advancing the development of 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 slated for four launches in 2025, with its maiden flight targeted for June.
Additionally, the company's reusable rocket, the Pallas-1, has made significant strides, having 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.
