Chinese commercial space company Galactic Energy is poised to launch its new-generation Ceres-2 solid-propellant carrier rocket on its inaugural mission within days, according to industry sources. The launch operation will be conducted from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, marking a significant milestone for China’s private aerospace sector.
The maiden flight will serve dual purposes: validating the rocket’s overall design and performance capabilities while deploying six commercial satellites and two experimental payloads with a combined mass exceeding one metric ton. The Ceres-2 represents a substantial advancement in China’s commercial launch vehicle technology, featuring a three-stage solid-propellant core complemented by a liquid-fueled upper stage.
With a total weight of 100 tons, the new rocket demonstrates impressive payload capacity, capable of delivering 1.6 tons to low-Earth orbit (500 km altitude) or 1.3 tons to sun-synchronous orbit (500 km altitude). The manufacturer highlights its exceptional carrying efficiency and operational flexibility, supporting both land-based and maritime launch platforms.
The rocket’s development involved manufacturing and functional testing across multiple facilities in Ziyang, Sichuan Province and Haiyang, Shandong Province. Galactic Energy ranks among China’s pioneering private enterprises achieving orbital capability with indigenous rocket technology. The company’s leadership team brings extensive experience from state-owned aerospace giants including China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
This launch continues the success trajectory established by Galactic Energy’s Ceres-1 model, which completed its debut flight in November 2020. The earlier variant has achieved 20 successful orbital missions out of 22 attempts, deploying 85 commercial satellites to date. The Ceres-1 stands at 20 meters with 1.4-meter diameter, capable of delivering 300kg payloads to sun-synchronous orbit.
The Ceres-2 debut coincides with increased activity among Chinese commercial rocket developers, with LandSpace recently introducing its ZQ-3 model and Space Pioneer preparing its TL-3 rocket for imminent first flight, signaling robust competition and innovation within China’s burgeoning private space industry.