China has marked a significant milestone in its commercial space industry with the successful launch of the CERES-1 rocket by Beijing-based Galactic Energy on Monday, January 20, 2025. The CERES-1 Y16 carrier rocket blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 6:11 p.m., carrying five satellites into a 535-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit.
Dubbed \"On Your Shoulders,\" the mission delivered the Yunyao-1 37~40 satellites and the JTX A-05 satellite into their designated orbits. The CERES-1 series has now completed 16 launches, successfully sending 63 satellites into space. Notably, 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.
The four Yunyao-1 satellites are equipped with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) occultation detection payloads. These instruments enable the acquisition of data on atmospheric temperature, humidity, pressure, and ionospheric electron density. The satellites have broad applications in meteorological observation and the verification of demonstration scenarios for satellite internet constellation systems for industries such as mining.
The JTX A-05 satellite carries a hyperspectral camera payload designed to acquire remote sensing images. This technology can be applied in various fields, including environmental monitoring, industrial emissions detection, gas leakage identification, agricultural surveillance, mineral exploration, forest management, and urban planning.
Meanwhile, Galactic Energy is advancing the development of its next-generation rockets. In Beijing, the company is working on the CERES-2, a solid carrier rocket with a payload capability 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.
The company's reusable rocket, the Pallas-1, has also made significant progress. Having completed the development of most key technologies, the Pallas-1 is expected to have its maiden flight in the first half of this year, as shared by founder and CEO Liu Baiqi at Airshow China 2024.
Galactic Energy's advancements reflect China's growing ambitions in commercial space exploration, positioning the nation as a significant player in the global space industry.
Reference(s):
CERES-1 Soars: China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025
cgtn.com
