Galactic Energy, a Beijing-based rocket manufacturer, has marked a significant milestone with the successful launch of its CERES-1 Y16 carrier rocket, accomplishing China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025.
On January 20 at 6:11 p.m., the CERES-1 Y16 rocket blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on a mission aptly named \"On Your Shoulders.\" The rocket successfully delivered five satellites—including the Yunyao-1 37 to 40 and the JTX A-05—into a sun-synchronous orbit approximately 535 kilometers above Earth.
This launch signifies the 16th mission completed by the CERES-1 rocket series, which has now deployed a total of 63 satellites into their designated orbits. Notably, the CERES-1 Y16 is the first rocket manufactured and assembled at Galactic Energy's new-generation research and development and production base located in Ziyang, Sichuan Province.
The four Yunyao-1 satellites are equipped with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) occultation detection payloads. These advanced instruments enable the acquisition of critical atmospheric data, including temperature, humidity, pressure, and ionospheric electron density. The satellites hold significant potential for applications in meteorological observation and the development of satellite internet constellation systems for industries such as mining.
The JTX A-05 satellite carries a hyperspectral camera payload designed to capture high-resolution remote sensing images. Its capabilities are set to benefit a wide range of 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-fueled 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.
In addition, the company is advancing its reusable rocket, the Pallas-1. As stated by founder and CEO Liu Baiqi at Airshow China 2024, the Pallas-1 has completed the development of most key technologies and is anticipated to make its inaugural flight in the first half of this year.
Reference(s):
CERES-1 Soars: China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025
cgtn.com
