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| 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 toLow 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 | 22 |
| Success(es) | 20 |
| Failure | 2 |
| Partial failure | 0 |
| First flight | 7 November 2020 |
| Last flight | 10 November 2025 |
| First stage – GS-1 | |
| Powered by | 1Solid |
| Maximum thrust | 588 kilonewtons (132,000 lbf) |
| Burn time | 73.9 seconds |
| Propellant | Solid |
| Second stage – GS-2 | |
| Powered by | 1Solid |
| Maximum thrust | 274.4 kilonewtons (61,700 lbf) |
| Burn time | 70 seconds |
| Propellant | Solid |
| Third stage – GS-3 | |
| Powered by | 1Solid |
| 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:Gǔshénxīng Yī-hào;lit. 'Ceres-1'), is a four-stage rocket manufactured and operated byGalactic Energy, the first three stages usesolid-propellant rocket motors and the final stage uses ahydrazine 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) tolow Earth orbit or 300 kg (660 lb) to 500 kmSun-synchronous orbit.[1]
The first launch of a Ceres-1 took place at 7 November 2020, successfully placing theTianqi 11 (also transcribedTiange, also known asTQ 11, andScorpio 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 offeringInternet of things (IoT) communications.[3]
On 5 September 2023, the sea-launched version of the launch vehicle, designatedCeres-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 theLong March 11 launch vehicle) off the coast ofHaiyang.[4]
| 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-1BaoyunGolden Bauhinia-5Golden Bauhinia-1 03 | SSO | Jiuquan | Success | |
| Ceres-1 Y3 | 9 August 2022, 04:11[8] | Taijing-1 01 Taijing-1 02Donghai-1 | SSO | Jiuquan | Success | |
| Ceres-1 Y4 | 16 November 2022, 06:19[9] | Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D 08 Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D 51Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D 52Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D 53Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D 54 | SSO | Jiuquan | Success | |
| Ceres-1 Y5 | 9 January 2023, 05:04[10] | Nantong Zhongxue Tianmu-1 01Tianmu-1 02Xiamen Keji-1Tianqi-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 × 4Xiguang-1 01Xingchi-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-22Tianqi-23Tianqi-24 | SSO | DeFu 15002 platform, | 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 ofRizhao, 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 ofRizhao, 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 ofRizhao, Yellow Sea | Success | |
| Ceres-1 Y16 | 20 January 2025 10:11[22] | Yunyao-1 37-40 Jitianxing A-05 | SSO | Jiuquan | Success | |
| Ceres-1 Y10 | 17 March 2025 08:07[23] | Yunyao-1 55-60 AIRSAT-06 (Zhongke 06) AIRSAT-07 (Zhongke 07) | SSO | Jiuquan | Success | |
| Ceres-1 Y17 | 21 March 2025 11:07[24] | Yunyao-1 43-48 | SSO | Jiuquan | Success | |
| Ceres-1S Y5 | 19 May 2025 07:38[25] | Tianqi 34-37 | LEO | Special converted barge (Dong Fang Hang Tian Gang) Offshore waters ofRizhao, Yellow Sea | Success | |
| Ceres-1 Y15 | 5 September 2025 11:39[26] | Kaiyun-1 Yuxing-3 08 Yunyao-1 27 | SSO | Jiuquan | Success | |
| Ceres-1 Y19 | 10 November 2025 04:02[16] | Jilin-1 Gaofen-04C Jilin-1 Pingtai 02A-04 Zhongbei University-1 | SSO | Jiuquan | Failure | 4th stage shut down prematurely 510 seconds into the burn. |
| Ceres-1 | 2025 (TBD)[27][28] | Zengzhang-1 | LEO | Jiuquan | Planned | Reentry capsule |