 | |
| Galactic Energy | |
| Company type | Private |
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | 6 February 2018; 7 years ago (2018-02-06) |
| Founders |
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| Headquarters | Beijing, China |
| Website | www |
| Galactic Energy | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simplified Chinese | 星河动力 | ||||||
| Literal meaning | Galaxy Power | ||||||
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Galactic Energy (Chinese:星河动力) is a Chinese private space launch enterprise flying theCeres-1[1][2][3] and developing thePallas-1 and Ceres-2 orbital rockets. The company's long-term objective is tomine asteroids forrare metals andminerals.[4]
Galactic Energy successfully conducted its first launch in November 2020 with a Ceres-1 rocket. Galactic Energy became the second private company in China to put a satellite in orbit successfully (afteri-Space) and the fourth to attempt an orbital launch (afterLandspace,OneSpace, and i-Space).[5]
On 6 December 2021, Galactic Energy launched its second Ceres-1 rocket, becoming the first Chinese private firm to reach orbit twice.[6] In January 2022, the company raised $200 million for reusable launch vehicle development.[7]
Ceres-1 (Chinese:谷神星一号) is a four-stage rocket, the first three stages usesolid-propellant rocket motors and the final stage uses ahydrazine propulsion system. It is about 19 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 (SSO).[8]
The first launch of 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.[9] 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.[10]
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.[11]
Ceres-2 is an improved version Ceres-1. It is expected to deliver up to 1600 kg to 500 km low Earth orbit and up to 1300 kg to 500 km SSO.[12] The first flight is expected in September of 2025.[13]
ThePallas-1 (Chinese:智神星一号) is a two-stagemedium-lift orbital launch vehicle currently in development, with its inaugural flight anticipated in 2025.[14] The first stage will have legs and grid fins to allow recovery by vertical landing (much like the SpaceXFalcon 9).[15] The first stage of Pallas-1 uses seven “CQ-50” liquid oxygen/kerosene engines, with a lift-off mass of 283 tons and a maximum payload capacity tolow Earth orbit (LEO) of 8 tons. Using three Pallas-1 booster cores as its first stage, the rocket will be capable of putting a 17.5-tonne payload intolow Earth orbit (LEO).[16]
Galactic Energy is in competition with several other Chinese space rocket startups, beingLandSpace,Deep Blue Aerospace,Space Pioneer,I-Space,ExPace,LinkSpace, andOneSpace.
| Rocket & Serial | Date | Payload | Orbit | Launch Site | Outcome | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceres-1 Y1 | 7 November 2020, 07:12[17] | Tianqi-1 (Scorpio-1) | SSO | Jiuquan | Success | First flight of Ceres-1. |
| Ceres-1 Y2 | 7 December 2021, 04:12[18][19] | Tianjin University-1 Lize-1BaoyunGolden Bauhinia-5Golden Bauhinia-1 03 | SSO | Jiuquan | Success | |
| Ceres-1 Y3 | 9 August 2022, 04:11[20] | Taijing-1 01 Taijing-1 02Donghai-1 | SSO | Jiuquan | Success | |
| Ceres-1 Y4 | 16 November 2022, 06:19[21] | 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[22] | Nantong Zhongxue Tianmu-1 01Tianmu-1 02Xiamen Keji-1Tianqi-13 | SSO | Jiuquan | Success | |
| Ceres-1 Y6 | 22 July 2023, 05:07[23] | Qiankun-1 Xingshidai-16 (Tai'an) | SSO | Jiuquan | Success | |
| Ceres-1 Y7 | 10 August 2023, 04:03[24] | 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[25] | Jilin-1 Kuanfu-02A (HKUST-Xiongbin-1) | SSO | Jiuquan | Success | |
| Ceres-1S Y1 | 5 September 2023, 09:34[26] | Tianqi-21 Tianqi-22Tianqi-23Tianqi-24 | SSO | DeFu 15002 platform, | Success | First sea-launch flight. |
| Ceres-1 Y11 | 21 September 2023, 04:59[27] | 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[28] | Tianyan-16 Xingchi-1A | SSO | Jiuquan | Success | |
| Ceres-1S Y2 | 29 May 2024, 08:12[29] | 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[30] | 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[31] | Eros TEE-01B Naxing-3 A & B | SSO | Jiuquan | Success | |
| Ceres-1S Y3 | 29 August 2024 05:22[32] | 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[33] | 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[34] | Yunyao-1 37-40 Jitianxing A-05 | SSO | Jiuquan | Success | |
| Ceres-1 Y10 | 17 March 2025 08:07[35] | Yunyao-1 55-60 AIRSAT-06 (Zhongke 06) AIRSAT-07 (Zhongke 07) | SSO | Jiuquan | Success | |
| Ceres-1 Y17 | 21 March 2025 11:07[36] | Yunyao-1 43-48 | SSO | Jiuquan | Success | |
| Ceres-1S Y5 | 19 May 2025 07:38[37] | 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[38] | Kaiyun-1 Yuxing-3 08 Yunyao-1 27 | SSO | Jiuquan | Success | |
| Ceres-1 Y19 | 10 November 2025 04:02[28] | 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)[39][40] | Zengzhang-1 | LEO | Jiuquan | Planned | Reentry capsule |
| Rocket & Serial | Date | Payload | Orbit | Launch Site | Outcome | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pallas-1 Y1 | late 2025 | TBA | LEO | TBA | Planned | First flight of Pallas-1. |
| Rocket & Serial | Date | Payload | Orbit | Launch Site | Outcome | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceres-2[13] | September 2025 | TBA | TBA | TBA | Planned | First flight of Ceres-2. |
Ceres-2's debut flight, rumored to be in late August or September
(Pallas-1) for a debut by the end of the year
