In a landmark achievement for China's burgeoning private space industry, Beijing-based rocket maker Galactic Energy successfully launched its CERES-1 Y16 carrier rocket, marking the first commercial rocket launch in China for 2025. The rocket lifted off 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 CERES-1 Y16 rocket carried five satellites into a 535-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit. Among them were the Yunyao-1 37~40 satellites, each equipped with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) occultation detection payloads. These advanced instruments enable the acquisition of crucial atmospheric data, including temperature, humidity, pressure, and ionospheric electron density. The data collected hold significant promise for meteorological observation and could play a pivotal role in satellite internet constellation systems for industries such as mining.
Also onboard was the JTX A-05 satellite, fitted with a hyperspectral camera payload designed to capture high-resolution remote sensing images. The applications for this technology are vast, spanning environmental monitoring, industrial emissions detection, gas leakage identification, agricultural surveillance, mineral exploration, forest management, and urban planning.
The success of the CERES-1 Y16 launch marks the 16th mission for the CERES-1 rocket series, which has now delivered a total of 63 satellites into their designated orbits. Notably, the Y16 rocket is the first 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.
Looking ahead, Galactic Energy is making significant strides in advancing its rocket technology. In Beijing, the company is developing 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.
Meanwhile, the company's reusable rocket, the Pallas-1, has completed the development of most key technologies. Founder and CEO Liu Baiqi announced at Airshow China 2024 that the Pallas-1 is expected to make its maiden flight in the first half of this year, marking an exciting advancement in China's endeavors toward reusable launch vehicles.
Reference(s):
CERES-1 Soars: China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025
cgtn.com
