China's Galactic Energy successfully launches CERES-2 rocket

China's Galactic Energy has successfully completed the first launch of its newly developed CERES-2 carrier rocket.

According to Xinhua, the CERES-2 rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, carrying four satellites, CE Report quotes Anadolu Agency.

The satellites successfully reached their planned orbital positions, marking the first successful orbital delivery mission for the CERES-2 rocket.

The 3.35-metre-diameter rocket uses solid fuel for its first three stages and liquid hydrazine for its fourth stage. It can carry payloads of up to 1.6 tonnes into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and up to 1.3 tonnes into Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO).

The rocket's first launch attempt, conducted on January 17, was unsuccessful.

Private companies developing rockets

China's space programme primarily relies on Long March rockets manufactured by the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).

In recent years, as global interest in private-sector rocket development has increased, Beijing has also been encouraging private companies to enter the space industry.

Alongside Galactic Energy, other Chinese private space companies, including i-Space, Space Pioneer, LandSpace and Orienspace, have conducted launches using their own rockets.

Photo: Chat GPT