China Achieves 12th Successful Sea-Based Satellite Launch

Written by Copernical Team Tuesday, 03 September 2024 19:49

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Sydney, Australia (SPX) Aug 30, 2024

Galactic Energy, a private rocket manufacturer based in Beijing, successfully completed the third sea-based launch of its Ceres 1 carrier rocket on Thursday afternoon. To date, China has conducted 12 sea-based launches, utilizing four different rocket types: Long March 11, Smart Dragon 3, Ceres 1, and Gravity 1. "The company said in a news release that the rocket blasted off at 1:22

China Achieves 12th Successful Sea-Based Satellite Launch
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Aug 30, 2024

Galactic Energy, a private rocket manufacturer based in Beijing, successfully completed the third sea-based launch of its Ceres 1 carrier rocket on Thursday afternoon.

To date, China has conducted 12 sea-based launches, utilizing four different rocket types: Long March 11, Smart Dragon 3, Ceres 1, and Gravity 1.

"The company said in a news release that the rocket blasted off at 1:22 pm from a mobile launch platform - a modified deck barge - in the Yellow Sea off the eastern province of Shandong and then sent six satellites into a sun synchronous orbit about 535 kilometers above the Earth."

"The satellites, from multiple operators, will be used to collect meteorological data, demonstrate optical remote-sensing technologies and collect hyper-spectral remote-sensing data," according to Galactic Energy.

Galactic Energy has now conducted 15 orbital launches with the Ceres 1 model, significantly surpassing other private competitors. These missions have successfully placed 54 commercial satellites into orbit.

The first sea-based launch of the Ceres 1 occurred in September 2023 off the coast of Shandong, placing four Tianqi satellites into space, marking Galactic Energy as the first Chinese private company to launch a rocket at sea.

The second sea-based launch took place in May, also successfully deploying four satellites.

The Ceres 1 rocket stands about 20 meters tall with a diameter of 1.4 meters and primarily utilizes solid propellant. With a liftoff weight of 33 metric tons, it is capable of sending a 300-kilogram satellite or several satellites with a combined weight of 300 kg into a 500-km sun-synchronous orbit, or payloads of 350 kg into a low-Earth orbit at an altitude of 200 km.