In a monumental stride for China's burgeoning commercial space industry, Beijing-based rocket manufacturer Galactic Energy successfully launched the CERES-1 Y16 rocket on Monday, marking the nation's first commercial rocket launch of 2025.
The CERES-1 Y16 carrier rocket soared into the skies from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 6:11 p.m. on January 20, on a mission aptly named \"On Your Shoulders.\" The rocket delivered five satellites—Yunyao-1 37~40 and the JTX A-05—into a sun-synchronous orbit approximately 535 kilometers above Earth.
This launch signifies the 16th successful mission for the CERES-1 rocket series, cumulatively sending 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 and production base in Ziyang, Sichuan Province, highlighting the company's expanding capabilities.
The quartet of Yunyao-1 satellites aboard this mission are equipped with advanced Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) occultation detection payloads. These instruments enable precise data acquisition of atmospheric temperature, humidity, pressure, and ionospheric electron density. Such capabilities hold significant promise for applications in meteorological observation and could revolutionize satellite internet constellation systems within the mining industry and beyond.
Meanwhile, the JTX A-05 satellite, armed with a cutting-edge hyperspectral camera, is set to enhance remote sensing capabilities. The data captured will support a multitude of sectors including environmental monitoring, industrial emissions detection, gas leakage identification, agricultural surveillance, mineral exploration, forest management, and urban planning.
Galactic Energy is not resting on its laurels. Back in Beijing, the company is advancing the development of the CERES-2 rocket, a solid carrier 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 anticipated in June.
Furthermore, the company's ambitions extend to reusable rocket technology. The Pallas-1 rocket has completed the development of most key technologies and is expected to undertake its inaugural flight in the first half of this year. This was revealed by Galactic Energy's founder and CEO, Liu Baiqi, during the Airshow China 2024.
The successful launch of the CERES-1 Y16 not only demonstrates China's growing prowess in the commercial space sector but also signifies a leap forward in satellite technology applications across various industries. As the country continues to invest in space technology, both domestically and globally, stakeholders eagerly anticipate the advancements these endeavors will bring.
Reference(s):
CERES-1 Soars: China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025
cgtn.com
