In a significant milestone for China's commercial space industry, Beijing-based rocket manufacturer Galactic Energy successfully launched the CERES-1 Y16 carrier rocket on January 20, marking the nation's first commercial rocket mission of 2025. The rocket lifted off at 6:11 p.m. from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, embarking on a mission aptly named \"On Your Shoulders.\"
The CERES-1 Y16 carried five satellites into a 535-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit, expanding the horizons of space-based technology and applications. Among the payload were the Yunyao-1 37~40 satellites and the JTX A-05 satellite, each equipped with advanced instruments poised to make significant contributions across various industries.
The quartet of Yunyao-1 satellites are outfitted with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) occultation detection payloads. These sophisticated sensors collect critical atmospheric data, including temperature, humidity, pressure, and ionospheric electron density. Such data are invaluable for meteorological observations and enhancing satellite internet constellation systems, particularly benefiting sectors like mining and beyond.
Meanwhile, the JTX A-05 satellite is equipped with a hyperspectral camera payload designed to capture high-resolution remote sensing images. This technology has widespread applications, from environmental monitoring and industrial emissions detection to gas leakage identification, agricultural surveillance, mineral exploration, forest management, and urban planning.
This latest launch underscores Galactic Energy's growing prowess in the aerospace sector. The CERES-1 rocket series has now completed 16 missions, successfully delivering 63 satellites into their designated orbits. Significantly, the CERES-1 Y16 is the first rocket manufactured and assembled at the company's new state-of-the-art research and development and production base in Ziyang, Sichuan Province.
Looking ahead, Galactic Energy is forging ahead with the development of the CERES-2, a solid carrier rocket boasting 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 targeted for June. This ambitious schedule underscores the company's commitment to advancing China's capabilities in commercial spaceflight.
Additionally, Galactic Energy's reusable rocket, the Pallas-1, has made significant strides, having completed the development of most key technologies. As revealed by the founder and CEO, Liu Baiqi, at Airshow China 2024, the Pallas-1 is expected to undertake its maiden flight in the first half of this year. This advancement signals a promising future for reusable launch vehicles in China's commercial space arena.
Reference(s):
CERES-1 Soars: China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025
cgtn.com
