Beijing-based rocket manufacturer Galactic Energy marked a significant milestone with the successful launch of the CERES-1 Y16 carrier rocket. Blasting off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 6:11 p.m. on January 20, the mission, dubbed \"On Your Shoulders,\" marks China's first commercial rocket launch of 2025.
The CERES-1 Y16 rocket successfully delivered five satellites into a 535-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit. Among these were the Yunyao-1 37~40 satellites and the JTX A-05 satellite. This launch signifies the 16th mission of the CERES-1 rocket series, which has now sent 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 in Ziyang, Sichuan Province.
The four Yunyao-1 satellites are equipped with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) occultation detection payloads. These instruments enable the acquisition of crucial atmospheric data, including temperature, humidity, pressure, and ionospheric electron density. The data have broad applications in meteorological observation and can aid in 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 remote sensing images. The high-resolution imagery can be applied across multiple fields, including environmental monitoring, industrial emissions detection, gas leakage identification, agricultural surveillance, mineral exploration, forest management, and urban planning.
Meanwhile, in Beijing, 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. Additionally, the company's reusable rocket, the Pallas-1, has completed the development of most key technologies and is anticipated to have its maiden 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
