Beijing-based rocket manufacturer Galactic Energy achieved a significant milestone on January 20, 2025, launching the CERES-1 Y16 carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. The mission, dubbed \"On Your Shoulders,\" marks the first commercial rocket launch in the Chinese mainland for 2025.
The CERES-1 Y16 lifted off at 6:11 p.m., delivering five satellites into a 535-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit. Among the payload were the Yunyao-1 37~40 satellites and the JTX A-05 satellite. This launch brings the total number of satellites deployed by the CERES-1 rocket series to 63 across 16 successful missions.
Significantly, 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. This advancement underscores China's growing capabilities in commercial space exploration and satellite deployment.
The four Yunyao-1 satellites are equipped with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) occultation detection payloads. These instruments enable the acquisition of critical atmospheric data, including temperature, humidity, pressure, and ionospheric electron density. The data have broad applications in meteorological observation and hold promise for industries such as mining through the verification of satellite internet constellation systems.
The JTX A-05 satellite carries a hyperspectral camera payload designed to capture high-resolution remote sensing images. This technology can be utilized in environmental monitoring, industrial emissions detection, gas leakage identification, agricultural surveillance, mineral exploration, forest management, and urban planning, offering valuable insights across multiple sectors.
Looking ahead, Galactic Energy is developing the CERES-2, a solid carrier rocket with a payload capacity of 1.6 tonnes. Meng Xianbo, the company's Chief Government Affairs Officer, announced plans for four CERES-2 launches in 2025, with the maiden flight targeted for June. Additionally, the company's reusable rocket, the Pallas-1, has completed development of key technologies and is expected to have its inaugural flight in the first half of this year, according to founder and CEO Liu Baiqi at Airshow China 2024.
Reference(s):
CERES-1 Soars: China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025
cgtn.com
