In a landmark achievement for China's commercial space industry, Beijing-based rocket maker Galactic Energy successfully launched the CERES-1 Y16 carrier rocket on January 20, marking the nation's first commercial rocket launch of 2025. The rocket blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 6:11 p.m., on a mission aptly named \"On Your Shoulders.\"
The CERES-1 Y16 rocket carried and deployed five satellites into a 535-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit, including the Yunyao-1 37~40 satellites and the JTX A-05 satellite. This launch signifies the 16th successful mission for the CERES-1 rocket series, which has now delivered 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 production base in Ziyang, Sichuan Province. This advancement underscores the company's expanding capabilities and its commitment to bolstering China's commercial space endeavors.
The four Yunyao-1 satellites are equipped with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) occultation detection payloads. These instruments enable the collection of vital atmospheric data, including temperature, humidity, pressure, and ionospheric electron density. Such data have broad applications in meteorological observation and can support the development of satellite internet constellation systems for industries like mining.
The JTX A-05 satellite, on the other hand, is equipped with a hyperspectral camera payload designed to capture high-resolution remote sensing images. The satellite's capabilities are expected to benefit multiple sectors, including 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 Meng Xianbo, the company's Chief Government Affairs Officer, the CERES-2 is slated to conduct four launches in 2025, with its maiden flight targeted for June.
Additionally, the company's reusable rocket, the Pallas-1, has reportedly completed the development of most key technologies. Galactic Energy's founder and CEO, Liu Baiqi, indicated that the Pallas-1 is expected to have its inaugural flight in the first half of this year, signaling a significant step forward in China's reusable rocket technology.
Reference(s):
CERES-1 Soars: China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025
cgtn.com
