Ceres-1 Explained

Ceres-1
Function:Launch vehicle
Manufacturer:Galactic Energy
Country-Origin:China
Capacities:
Stages:4
Status:Active
Launches:14
Success:13
Fail:1
Partial:0
First:7 November 2020
Last:6 June 2024
Comparable:Electron, Pegasus, Kuaizhou1A
Stagedata:
Type:stage
Stageno:First
GS-1
Burntime:73.9 seconds
Type:stage
Stageno:Second
GS-2
Burntime:70 seconds
Type:stage
Stageno:Third
GS-3
Burntime:69 seconds
Type:stage
Stageno:Fourth
Advanced liquid upper stage
Burntime:600 seconds
Upright:0.8
Sites:JSLC, and sea-launch platforms in water

Ceres-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 & SerialDatePayloadOrbitLaunch SiteOutcomeRemarks
Ceres-1 Y17 November 2020, 07:12[5] Tianqi-1 (Scorpio-1)SSOJiuquanFirst flight of Ceres-1.
Ceres-1 Y27 December 2021, 04:12[6] [7] Tianjin University-1Lize-1BaoyunGolden Bauhinia-5Golden Bauhinia-1 03SSOJiuquan
Ceres-1 Y39 August 2022, 04:11[8] Taijing-1 01Taijing-1 02Donghai-1SSOJiuquan
Ceres-1 Y416 November 2022, 06:19[9] Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D 08Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D 51Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D 52Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D 53Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D 54SSOJiuquan
Ceres-1 Y59 January 2023, 05:04[10] Nantong ZhongxueTianmu-1 01Tianmu-1 02Xiamen Keji-1Tianqi-13SSOJiuquan
Ceres-1 Y622 July 2023, 05:07[11] Qiankun-1Xingshidai-16 (Tai'an)SSOJiuquan
Ceres-1 Y710 August 2023, 04:03[12] Diwei Zhineng Yingji-1 (Henan Ligong-1)Xi'an Hangtou × 4Xiguang-1 01Xingchi-1BSSOJiuquan
Ceres-1 Y825 August 2023, 04:59[13] Jilin-1 Kuanfu-02A (HKUST-Xiongbin-1)SSOJiuquan
Ceres-1S Y15 September 2023, 09:34[14] Tianqi-21Tianqi-22Tianqi-23Tianqi-24SSODeFu 15002 platform,Yellow SeaFirst sea-launch flight.
Ceres-1 Y1121 September 2023, 04:59[15] Jilin-1 Gaofen-04BSSOJiuquanFirst Ceres-1 failure after 9 consecutive successful launches since 2020.
Ceres-1 Y95 December 2023, 23:33[16] Tianyan-16
Xingchi-1A
SSOJiuquan
Ceres-1S Y229 May 2024, 08:12[17] Tianqi-25
Tianqi-26
Tianqi-27
Tianqi-28
LEOSpecial converted barge (Dong Fang Hang Tian Gang)
Offshore waters of Rizhao, Yellow Sea
Ceres-1 Y1230 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)SSOJiuquan
Ceres-1 Y136 June 2024, 05:00[19] Eros
TEE-01B
Naxing-3 A & B
SSOJiuquan
Ceres-1S Y326 August 2024
03:20 [20]
TBA SSOSpecial converted barge (Dong Fang Hang Tian Gang),Offshore waters of Rizhao, Yellow Sea
Ceres-1 Y102024TBA SSOJiuquan
Ceres-1 Y142024TBA SSOJiuquan
Ceres-1S Y42024[21] TBA SSOSpecial converted barge (Bo Run Jiu Zhou),Offshore waters of Rizhao, Yellow Sea
Ceres-1 Y152024TBA SSOJiuquan
Ceres-1 Y162024TBA SSOJiuquan
Ceres-12024 (TBD)[22] [23] Zengzhang-1LEOJiuquanReentry capsule

References

  1. Web site: Jones . Andrew . 2023-01-09 . Pair of Chinese launches put classified and commercial satellites into orbit . 2023-11-22 . SpaceNews . en-US.
  2. Web site: Jones . Andrew . 2020-11-07 . Chinese rocket firm Galactic Energy succeeds with first orbital launch, secures funding . 2023-11-22 . SpaceNews . en-US.
  3. Web site: Tianqi 10, 11, 12 . 2023-11-22 . Gunter's Space Page . en.
  4. Web site: Jones . Andrew . 2023-09-05 . Chinese Ceres-1 rocket reaches orbit with first sea launch . 2023-11-22 . SpaceNews . en-US.
  5. Web site: Jones . Andrew . 7 November 2020 . Chinese rocket firm Galactic Energy succeeds with first orbital launch, secures funding . 29 April 2021 . SpaceNews.
  6. Web site: China's CERES-1 Y2 commercial rocket launches 5 satellites . Xinhua News Agency.
  7. Web site: 7 December 2021 . Chinese private firm Galactic Energy puts five satellites in orbit with second launch .
  8. 1556863541440745472. CNSpaceflight. 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.. China 'N Asia Spaceflight. 9 August 2022.
  9. 1592770957776916480. CNSpaceflight. Liftoff at 06:20UTC, CERES-1 Y4 successfully launched five Jilin-1-03D satellites from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.. China 'N Asia Spaceflight. 16 November 2022.
  10. 1612322006317531138. CNSpaceflight. 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!. China 'N Asia Spaceflight. 9 January 2023.
  11. Web site: 22 July 2023 . China's commercial rocket CERES-1 Y6 launches 2 satellites . 22 July 2023 . Xinhua.
  12. Web site: China's commercial CERES-1 Y7 rocket launches 7 satellites . 10 August 2023 . Xinhua.
  13. Web site: 25 August 2023 . 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 . 25 August 2023 . Galatic Energy . zh.
  14. Web site: Jones . Andrew . 5 September 2023 . Chinese Ceres-1 rocket reaches orbit with first sea launch . 5 September 2023 . SpaceNews.com.
  15. Web site: Launch of Jilin-1 Gaofen-04 B satellite fails . 21 September 2023 . Xinhua Net.
  16. Web site: China's commercial CERES-1 Y9 rocket launches new satellites . Xinhua . 5 December 2023 . 5 December 2023.
  17. Web site: China's commercial rocket launches satellites from sea . Xinhua . 29 May 2024 . 29 May 2024.
  18. Web site: Chinese rocket launches 5 satellites into space . Xinhua . 31 May 2024 . 31 May 2024.
  19. Web site: China's commercial CERES-1 rocket launches 3 satellites . Xinhua . 6 June 2024 . 6 June 2024.
  20. Web site: Ceres 1S Unknown Payload . 2024-06-26 . nextspaceflight.com . en.
  21. Web site: Ceres 1S Unknown Payload . 2024-06-26 . nextspaceflight.com . en.
  22. Web site: 5 August 2021 . 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 . 11 August 2021 . 3sNews . zh.
  23. Web site: 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 . 11 August 2021 . 36Kr . zh.