CERES-1 Launches: China's Inaugural Commercial Rocket Liftoff of 2025
CERES-1 Soars: China's inaugural commercial rocket launch of 2025.
TroibNews 
Galactic Energy, a rocket manufacturer based in Beijing, achieved a significant milestone this past Monday with the launch of the CERES-1 rocket, marking the first commercial rocket launch in China for 2025.
The CERES-1 Y16 carrier rocket took off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 6:11 p.m. on January 20, as part of a mission called "On Your Shoulders." The launch successfully delivered five satellites into a sun-synchronous orbit at 535 kilometers, including the Yunyao-1 37~40 and JTX A-05 satellites.
To date, the CERES-1 rocket series has accomplished 16 launches, placing a total of 63 satellites into their designated orbits. The Y16 variant is notable for being the first rocket produced and assembled at the company's new-generation research and development and production facility located in Ziyang, Sichuan Province.
The four Yunyao-1 satellites are designed with Global Navigation Satellite System occultation detection payloads that facilitate the collection of data related to atmospheric temperature, humidity, pressure, and ionospheric electron density. Their capabilities hold significant potential for applications in meteorological observation and demonstrating scenarios for satellite internet constellation systems in sectors such as mining.
Conversely, the JTX A-05 satellite features a hyperspectral camera payload, enabling it to capture remote sensing images applicable in various areas, including environmental monitoring, detection of industrial emissions, identification of gas leaks, agricultural oversight, mineral exploration, forest management, and urban planning.
In ongoing developments, the company is also working on the CERES-2, a solid carrier rocket with a payload capacity of 1.6 tonnes. Meng Xianbo, the Chief Government Affairs Officer of Galactic Energy, stated that CERES-2 is projected to undertake four launches in 2025, with its first flight anticipated for June. Additionally, the company’s reusable rocket, the Pallas-1, has achieved substantial progress in developing its key technologies and is expected to make its inaugural flight in the first half of this year, according to the founder and CEO, Liu Baiqi, during the Airshow China 2024.
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
The CERES-1 Y16 carrier rocket took off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 6:11 p.m. on January 20, as part of a mission called "On Your Shoulders." The launch successfully delivered five satellites into a sun-synchronous orbit at 535 kilometers, including the Yunyao-1 37~40 and JTX A-05 satellites.
To date, the CERES-1 rocket series has accomplished 16 launches, placing a total of 63 satellites into their designated orbits. The Y16 variant is notable for being the first rocket produced and assembled at the company's new-generation research and development and production facility located in Ziyang, Sichuan Province.
The four Yunyao-1 satellites are designed with Global Navigation Satellite System occultation detection payloads that facilitate the collection of data related to atmospheric temperature, humidity, pressure, and ionospheric electron density. Their capabilities hold significant potential for applications in meteorological observation and demonstrating scenarios for satellite internet constellation systems in sectors such as mining.
Conversely, the JTX A-05 satellite features a hyperspectral camera payload, enabling it to capture remote sensing images applicable in various areas, including environmental monitoring, detection of industrial emissions, identification of gas leaks, agricultural oversight, mineral exploration, forest management, and urban planning.
In ongoing developments, the company is also working on the CERES-2, a solid carrier rocket with a payload capacity of 1.6 tonnes. Meng Xianbo, the Chief Government Affairs Officer of Galactic Energy, stated that CERES-2 is projected to undertake four launches in 2025, with its first flight anticipated for June. Additionally, the company’s reusable rocket, the Pallas-1, has achieved substantial progress in developing its key technologies and is expected to make its inaugural flight in the first half of this year, according to the founder and CEO, Liu Baiqi, during the Airshow China 2024.
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
