Ceres-1

Ceres-1

Function	Launch vehicle
Manufacturer	Galactic Energy
Country of origin	China
Cost per launch	US$4.5 million
Size
Height	20 m (66 ft)
Diameter	1.4 m (4 ft 7 in)
Mass	33,000 kg (73,000 lb)
Stages	4
Capacity
Payload to Low Earth orbit
Mass	400 kg (880 lb)
Associated rockets
Comparable	Electron, Pegasus, Kuaizhou1A
Launch history
Status	Active
Launch sites	JSLC, and sea-launch platforms in water
Total launches	16
Success(es)	15
Failure(s)	1
Partial failure(s)	0
First flight	7 November 2020
Last flight	19 December 2024
First stage – GS-1
Powered by	1 Solid
Maximum thrust	588 kilonewtons (132,000 lbf)
Burn time	73.9 seconds
Propellant	Solid
Second stage – GS-2
Powered by	1 Solid
Maximum thrust	274.4 kilonewtons (61,700 lbf)
Burn time	70 seconds
Propellant	Solid
Third stage – GS-3
Powered by	1 Solid
Maximum thrust	86.24 kilonewtons (19,390 lbf)
Burn time	69 seconds
Propellant	Solid
Fourth stage – Advanced liquid upper stage
Maximum thrust	10 kilonewtons (2,200 lbf)
Burn time	600 seconds

Ceres-1 (Chinese: 谷神星一号; pinyin: Gushenxing-1), is a four-stage rocket manufactured and operated by Galactic Energy, the first three stages use solid-propellant rocket motors and the final stage uses a hydrazine propulsion system. It is about 20 m (62 ft) tall and 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in) in diameter. It can deliver 400 kg (880 lb) to low Earth orbit or 300 kg (660 lb) to 500 km Sun-synchronous orbit.^[1]

The first launch of a Ceres-1 took place at 7 November 2020, successfully placing the Tianqi 11 (also transcribed Tiange, also known as TQ 11, and Scorpio 1, COSPAR 2020-080A) satellite in orbit.^[2] The satellite's mass was about 50 kg (110 lb) and its purpose was to function as an experimental satellite offering Internet of things (IoT) communications.^[3]

On 5 September 2023, the sea-launched version of the launch vehicle, designated Ceres-1S, made its debut successfully sending to orbit four Tianqi satellites. The launch took place from the DeFu 15002 converted barge (previously used also for launching the Long March 11 launch vehicle) off the coast of Haiyang.^[4]

Launches

Rocket & Serial	Date	Payload	Orbit	Launch Site	Outcome	Remarks
Ceres-1 Y1	7 November 2020, 07:12[5]	Tianqi-1 (Scorpio-1)	SSO	Jiuquan	Success	First flight of Ceres-1.
Ceres-1 Y2	7 December 2021, 04:12[6][7]	Tianjin University-1 Lize-1 Baoyun Golden Bauhinia-5 Golden Bauhinia-1 03	SSO	Jiuquan	Success
Ceres-1 Y3	9 August 2022, 04:11[8]	Taijing-1 01 Taijing-1 02 Donghai-1	SSO	Jiuquan	Success
Ceres-1 Y4	16 November 2022, 06:19[9]	Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D 08 Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D 51 Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D 52 Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D 53 Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D 54	SSO	Jiuquan	Success
Ceres-1 Y5	9 January 2023, 05:04[10]	Nantong Zhongxue Tianmu-1 01 Tianmu-1 02 Xiamen Keji-1 Tianqi-13	SSO	Jiuquan	Success
Ceres-1 Y6	22 July 2023, 05:07[11]	Qiankun-1 Xingshidai-16 (Tai'an)	SSO	Jiuquan	Success
Ceres-1 Y7	10 August 2023, 04:03[12]	Diwei Zhineng Yingji-1 (Henan Ligong-1) Xi'an Hangtou × 4 Xiguang-1 01 Xingchi-1B	SSO	Jiuquan	Success
Ceres-1 Y8	25 August 2023, 04:59[13]	Jilin-1 Kuanfu-02A (HKUST-Xiongbin-1)	SSO	Jiuquan	Success
Ceres-1S Y1	5 September 2023, 09:34[14]	Tianqi-21 Tianqi-22 Tianqi-23 Tianqi-24	SSO	DeFu 15002 platform, Yellow Sea	Success	First sea-launch flight.
Ceres-1 Y11	21 September 2023, 04:59[15]	Jilin-1 Gaofen-04B	SSO	Jiuquan	Failure	First Ceres-1 failure after 9 consecutive successful launches since 2020.
Ceres-1 Y9	5 December 2023, 23:33[16]	Tianyan-16 Xingchi-1A	SSO	Jiuquan	Success
Ceres-1S Y2	29 May 2024, 08:12[17]	Tianqi-25 Tianqi-26 Tianqi-27 Tianqi-28	LEO	Special converted barge (Dong Fang Hang Tian Gang) Offshore waters of Rizhao, Yellow Sea	Success
Ceres-1 Y12	30 May 2024, 23:39[18]	Jiguang Xingzuo 01 & 02, Yunyao-1 14 (Hebei Linxi-1), Yunyao-1 25 (Zhangjiang Gaoke), Yunyao-1 26 (Nishuihan-2)	SSO	Jiuquan	Success
Ceres-1 Y13	6 June 2024, 05:00[19]	Eros TEE-01B Naxing-3 A & B	SSO	Jiuquan	Success
Ceres-1S Y3	29 August 2024 05:22[20]	Yunyao-1 (15,16,17) Jitianxing A-03 Suxing 1-01 Tianfu Gaofen 2	SSO	Special converted barge (Dong Fang Hang Tian Gang) Offshore waters of Rizhao, Yellow Sea	Success
Ceres-1S Y4	19 December 2024 10:18[21]	Tianqi 33-36	LEO	Special converted barge (Dong Fang Hang Tian Gang) Offshore waters of Rizhao, Yellow Sea	Success
Ceres-1 Y14	2025[16]	TBA	SSO	Jiuquan	Planned
Ceres-1 Y10	2025[16]	TBA	SSO	Jiuquan	Planned
Ceres-1 Y15	2025[16]	TBA	SSO	Jiuquan	Planned
Ceres-1 Y16	2025[16]	TBA	SSO	Jiuquan	Planned
Ceres-1	2025 (TBD)[22][23]	Zengzhang-1	LEO	Jiuquan	Planned	Reentry capsule

References

1. Jones, Andrew (2023-01-09). "Pair of Chinese launches put classified and commercial satellites into orbit". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
2. Jones, Andrew (2020-11-07). "Chinese rocket firm Galactic Energy succeeds with first orbital launch, secures funding". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
3. "Tianqi 10, 11, 12". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
4. Jones, Andrew (2023-09-05). "Chinese Ceres-1 rocket reaches orbit with first sea launch". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
5. Jones, Andrew (7 November 2020). "Chinese rocket firm Galactic Energy succeeds with first orbital launch, secures funding". SpaceNews. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
6. "China's CERES-1 Y2 commercial rocket launches 5 satellites". Xinhua News Agency.
7. "Chinese private firm Galactic Energy puts five satellites in orbit with second launch". 7 December 2021.
8. China 'N Asia Spaceflight [@CNSpaceflight] (9 August 2022). "Liftoff at 04:11 UTC on Aug. 09, GALACTIC-ENERGY successfully made the 3rd consecutive launch of solid rocket CERES-1 from Jiuquan, sending 3 satellites: Taijing-1-01/02 and Donghai-1, to orbit" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
9. China 'N Asia Spaceflight [@CNSpaceflight] (16 November 2022). "Liftoff at 06:20UTC, CERES-1 Y4 successfully launched five Jilin-1-03D satellites from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
10. China 'N Asia Spaceflight [@CNSpaceflight] (9 January 2023). "GIVE ME FIVE! GALACTIC-ENERGY's CERES-1 Y5 successfully launched 5 satellites from Jiuquan at ~05:04 UTC on January 09. 5 successful missions in a roll for a Chinese startup!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
11. "China's commercial rocket CERES-1 Y6 launches 2 satellites". Xinhua. 22 July 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
12. "China's commercial CERES-1 Y7 rocket launches 7 satellites". Xinhua. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
13. "八连胜！星河动力航天顺利将吉林一号宽幅02A星送入预定轨道" [Eight consecutive successes! Galaxy Energy successfully sent the Jilin-1 Kuanfu-02A satellite into the planned orbit]. Galatic Energy (in Chinese). 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
14. Jones, Andrew (5 September 2023). "Chinese Ceres-1 rocket reaches orbit with first sea launch". SpaceNews.com. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
15. "Launch of Jilin-1 Gaofen-04 B satellite fails". Xinhua Net. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
16. "China's commercial CERES-1 Y9 rocket launches new satellites". Xinhua. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
17. "China's commercial rocket launches satellites from sea". Xinhua. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
18. "Chinese rocket launches 5 satellites into space". Xinhua. 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
19. "China's commercial CERES-1 rocket launches 3 satellites". Xinhua. 6 June 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
20. "China's commercial CERES-1 rocket launches satellites from sea". Xinhua. 29 August 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
21. "China's commercial CERES-1 rocket launches satellites from sea". Xinhua. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
22. "首飞在即，民营商业飞船研发商星际开发获英诺天使基金千万元级天使投资" [First flight coming soon, private commercial spacecraft developer Interstellar Development receives 10 million yuan angel investment from Inno Angel Fund] (in Chinese). 3sNews. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
23. Zhang, Lin (4 August 2021). "「星际开发」完成数千万元天使轮融资，加速商业航天领域宇宙飞船研发" ["Interstellar Development" completes tens of millions of yuan in angel round financing, accelerating spacecraft research and development in the commercial aerospace field] (in Chinese). 36Kr. Retrieved 11 August 2021.