On January 20, Galactic Energy, a Beijing-based rocket maker, successfully launched the CERES-1 Y16 carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. The launch, which took place at 6:11 p.m. local time, marked China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025 and was dubbed the \"On Your Shoulders\" mission.
The CERES-1 Y16 carried five satellites into a 535-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit, including the Yunyao-1 37 to 40 satellites and the JTX A-05 satellite. This mission brings the total number of satellites delivered into orbit by the CERES-1 rocket series to 63 across 16 launches.
Notably, the CERES-1 Y16 is the first rocket manufactured and assembled at Galactic Energy's new-generation research and development and production base in Ziyang, Sichuan Province. The company's expansion into this new facility signifies a significant step forward in China's commercial space industry.
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 collected have broad applications in meteorological observation and can aid in the development of satellite internet constellations for industries such as mining.
The JTX A-05 satellite, also deployed during the mission, is equipped with a hyperspectral camera payload designed to acquire high-resolution remote sensing images. The satellite's capabilities have practical applications in environmental monitoring, industrial emissions detection, gas leakage identification, agricultural surveillance, mineral exploration, forest management, and urban planning.
Meanwhile, Galactic Energy is advancing the development of 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 expected to conduct four launches in 2025, with its maiden flight targeted for June.
In addition, the company's reusable rocket, the Pallas-1, has completed the development of most key technologies. The Pallas-1 is expected to have its maiden flight in the first half of this year, signaling Galactic Energy's commitment to advancing reusable launch technologies in China's commercial space sector.
Reference(s):
CERES-1 Soars: China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025
cgtn.com
