China's commercial space sector achieved another milestone early Friday morning with the successful launch of four IoT satellites from waters near Shandong Province. The CERES-1 Y7 rocket, developed by Beijing-based Galactic Energy, lifted off at 4:10 a.m. local time on January 16, 2026, marking the 23rd mission for this small solid-propellant launch vehicle.
The satellites joined the expanding Tianqi constellation – China's first low-Earth orbit network specifically designed for global Internet of Things connectivity. Engineered for miniaturization and cost-effectiveness, the system now supports real-time data services across land, sea, air, and space environments.
"This launch demonstrates the growing sophistication of China's commercial space capabilities," said a representative from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, which oversaw the offshore mission. The constellation currently serves diverse sectors including environmental monitoring, disaster response, and smart city development.
With 18 successful launches in the past 12 months alone, Galactic Energy continues to solidify China's position in the global microsatellite launch market. Industry analysts predict the Tianqi network could reduce IoT infrastructure costs by up to 40% for Asian enterprises by late 2026.
