Ceres-1

Ceres-1 (Chinese: 谷神星一号; pinyin: Gushenxing-1), is a four-stage rocket manufactured and operated by Galactic Energy, the first three stages use solid-propellant rocket motors and the final stage uses a hydrazine 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) to low Earth orbit or 300 kg (660 lb) to 500 km Sun-synchronous orbit.^[1]

Ceres-1

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 to Low 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	20
Success(es)	19
Failure(s)	1
Partial failure(s)	0
First flight	7 November 2020
Last flight	19 May 2025
First stage – GS-1
Powered by	1 Solid
Maximum thrust	588 kilonewtons (132,000 lbf)
Burn time	73.9 seconds
Propellant	Solid
Second stage – GS-2
Powered by	1 Solid
Maximum thrust	274.4 kilonewtons (61,700 lbf)
Burn time	70 seconds
Propellant	Solid
Third stage – GS-3
Powered by	1 Solid
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

The first launch of a Ceres-1 took place at 7 November 2020, successfully placing the Tianqi 11 (also transcribed Tiange, also known as TQ 11, and Scorpio 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 offering Internet of things (IoT) communications.^[3]

On 5 September 2023, the sea-launched version of the launch vehicle, designated Ceres-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 the Long March 11 launch vehicle) off the coast of Haiyang.^[4]

Launches

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-1 Baoyun Golden Bauhinia-5 Golden Bauhinia-1 03	SSO	Jiuquan	Success
Ceres-1 Y3	9 August 2022, 04:11[8]	Taijing-1 01 Taijing-1 02 Donghai-1	SSO	Jiuquan	Success
Ceres-1 Y4	16 November 2022, 06:19[9]	Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D 08 Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D 51 Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D 52 Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D 53 Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D 54	SSO	Jiuquan	Success
Ceres-1 Y5	9 January 2023, 05:04[10]	Nantong Zhongxue Tianmu-1 01 Tianmu-1 02 Xiamen Keji-1 Tianqi-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 × 4 Xiguang-1 01 Xingchi-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-22 Tianqi-23 Tianqi-24	SSO	DeFu 15002 platform, Yellow Sea	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 of Rizhao, 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 of Rizhao, 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 of Rizhao, 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 of Rizhao, Yellow Sea	Success
Ceres-1 Y14	June 2025[16]	TBA	SSO	Jiuquan	Planned
Ceres-2 Y1	July 2025[16]	Zidingxiang 3 TBA	SSO	Jiuquan	Planned
Ceres-1 Y15	2025[16]	TBA	SSO	Jiuquan	Planned
Ceres-1	2025 (TBD)[26][27]	Zengzhang-1	LEO	Jiuquan	Planned	Reentry capsule