CERES-1 Soars: China's First Commercial Rocket Launch of 2025
In a landmark event for China's burgeoning commercial space industry, Beijing-based rocket manufacturer Galactic Energy successfully launched its CERES-1 Y16 carrier rocket on January 20, 2025. Blasting off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China 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 carried a payload of five satellites into a 535-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit. Among them were the Yunyao-1 37~40 satellites, each equipped with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) occultation detection payloads. These advanced instruments enable the satellites to collect critical data on atmospheric temperature, humidity, pressure, and ionospheric electron density. Such data hold immense potential for applications in meteorological observation and the development of satellite internet constellation systems for industries like mining.
Also aboard was the JTX A-05 satellite, outfitted with a hyperspectral camera payload designed to capture high-resolution remote sensing images. The information gathered by this satellite is invaluable across various sectors, including environmental monitoring, industrial emissions detection, gas leakage identification, agricultural surveillance, mineral exploration, forest management, and urban planning.
This launch signifies a significant milestone for Galactic Energy. The CERES-1 Y16 is the first rocket manufactured and assembled at the company's new-generation research and development and production base in Ziyang, Sichuan Province. To date, the CERES-1 rocket series has completed 16 launches, delivering a total of 63 satellites into orbit, underscoring the rapid advancement of China's private aerospace sector.
Looking ahead, Galactic Energy is making swift progress on the development of the CERES-2 rocket, a solid carrier with a payload capacity of 1.6 tonnes. Meng Xianbo, the company's Chief Government Affairs Officer, announced that the CERES-2 is slated for four launches in 2025, with its maiden flight planned for June. In addition, the company's reusable rocket, the Pallas-1, has achieved development of most key technologies and is expected to make its inaugural flight in the first half of this year, according to founder and CEO Liu Baiqi at Airshow China 2024.
These advancements not only highlight the innovation within China's commercial space industry but also signal a new era of opportunities for global investors, researchers, and enthusiasts keen on Asia's dynamic role in aerospace development. As Galactic Energy continues to push the boundaries of space technology, the world's eyes remain fixed on the sky, anticipating what the future holds.
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CERES-1 Soars: China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025
cgtn.com
