China's commercial space industry reached a new milestone on January 20, 2025, as Beijing-based rocket maker Galactic Energy successfully launched the CERES-1 Y16 carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. Lifting off at 6:11 p.m., the mission, aptly named \"On Your Shoulders,\" marked the nation's first commercial rocket launch of the year.
The CERES-1 Y16 rocket delivered five satellites into a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 535 kilometers. Among the payload were the Yunyao-1 satellites 37 to 40 and the JTX A-05 satellite. This successful deployment adds to the impressive track record of the CERES-1 rocket series, which has now completed 16 launches, sending a total of 63 satellites into their designated orbits.
Significantly, the CERES-1 Y16 is the first rocket to be manufactured and assembled in Galactic Energy's new-generation research and development and production base located in Ziyang, Sichuan Province. This advancement underscores the company's growing capabilities and China's expanding footprint in the global commercial space sector.
The four Yunyao-1 satellites are equipped with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) occultation detection payloads. This technology enables the collection of crucial atmospheric data, including temperature, humidity, pressure, and ionospheric electron density. Such data has broad applications in meteorological observation and can enhance satellite internet constellation systems for industries like mining.
The JTX A-05 satellite carries a hyperspectral camera payload designed to acquire high-resolution remote sensing images. The satellite's capabilities are expected to benefit multiple fields, including environmental monitoring, industrial emissions detection, gas leakage identification, agricultural surveillance, mineral exploration, forest management, and urban planning.
Meanwhile, Galactic Energy is progressing with 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 its maiden flight in June 2025 and is expected to conduct four launches that year.
The company is also making strides with its reusable rocket, the Pallas-1. Having completed the development of most key technologies, the Pallas-1 is anticipated to have its maiden flight in the first half of this year, as revealed 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
