Galactic Energy
Galactic Energy (Galactic Energy (Beijing) Space Technology Co., LTD.) is a Chinese private space launch enterprise developing the Ceres-1 [1][2][3] and Pallas-1 orbital rockets.
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | February 2018 |
| Founder | 刘百奇 夏东坤 |
| Headquarters | |
| Website | www |

Ceres-1 is a four-stage rocket, the first three stages use solid-propellant rocket motors and the final stage uses a hydrazine propulsion system. It is about 19 m (62 ft) tall and 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in) in diameter. It can deliver about 350 kg (770 lb) to low Earth orbit.[4]
The first launch of 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.[5] 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.[6]
Galactic Energy became the second private company of China to successfully put a satellite in orbit (after i-Space) and the fourth to attempt to do that.
Marketplace
Galactic Space is in competition with several other Chinese solid rocket startups, being LandSpace, LinkSpace, ExPace, i-Space, OneSpace, Deep Blue Aerospace.[7]
Launches
| Rocket | Date | Payload | Orbit | Launch Site | Outcome | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceres-1 | 7 November 2020, 07:12 UTC [8] |
Tianqi-11 (Scorpio-1) | SSO | Jiuquan | Success | First flight of Ceres-1. First orbital flight for Galactic Energy. |
| Ceres-1 | 7 December 2021, 04:12 UTC [9][10] |
Tianjin University-1 Lize-1 Baoyun Golden Bauhinia-5 Golden Bauhinia-1 03 |
LEO | Jiuquan | Success | |
| Ceres-1 | January 2022 [11] | Fangzhou-2F (SPARK-02F) | LEO | Jiuquan | Planned | Retrievable satellite technology demonstration by Beijing Space Ark Technology Co., Ltd. [12] |
| Ceres-1 | 2022 [13][14] | Zengzhang-1 | LEO | Jiuquan | Planned | Reentry capsule technology demonstration by Beijing Interstellar Development Technology Co., Ltd. |
| Pallas-1 | 2023 [11][15] | TBA | LEO | TBA | Planned | First flight of Pallas-1. |
References
- "Chinese launch firm Galactic Energy raises US$21.5 million". SpaceNews. 9 January 2020.
- "Satellites become key vertical within China's growing space sector". Kr ASIA. 12 May 2020.
- "Galactic Energy Prepares Ceres-1 Rocket for First Launch". spectrum.ieee.org.
- Clark, Stephen (8 November 2020). "New Chinese rocket successful in debut launch". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- "Chinese rocket firm Galactic Energy succeeds with first orbital launch, secures funding". SpaceNews. 7 November 2020.
- "Tianqi 10, 11, 12". Gunter's Space Page. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- Doug Messier (20 December 2017). "EXPACE Raises US$182 Million for Small Satellite Launchers". Parabolic Arc.
- Jones, Andrew (7 November 2020). "Chinese rocket firm Galactic Energy succeeds with first orbital launch, secures funding". SpaceNews. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
- "China's CERES-1 Y2 commercial rocket launches 5 satellites". Xinhua.
- https://spacenews.com/chinese-private-firm-galactic-energy-puts-five-satellites-in-orbit-with-second-launch/
- "独家专访星河动力CEO:中国商业航天即将进入快速发展期" [Exclusive interview with Galactic Energy CEO: China's commercial aerospace sector is about to enter a period of rapid development] (in Chinese). NetEase. 8 September 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- "中国首颗商业化天地往返飞行器验证卫星"方舟二号"正式出厂" [China's first commercialized space-to-earth shuttle test satellite "Fangzhou-2" officially leaves the factory] (in Chinese). Space Ark. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2021 – via Weixin QQ.
- "首飞在即,民营商业飞船研发商星际开发获英诺天使基金千万元级天使投资" [First flight coming soon, private commercial spacecraft developer Interstellar Development receives 10 million yuan angel investment from Inno Angel Fund] (in Chinese). 3sNews. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
- Zhang, Lin (4 August 2021). "「星际开发」完成数千万元天使轮融资,加速商业航天领域宇宙飞船研发" ["Interstellar Development" completes tens of millions of yuan in angel round financing, accelerating spacecraft research and development in the commercial aerospace field] (in Chinese). 36Kr. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
- Jones, Andrew (1 October 2019). "New Chinese commercial rocket firms move toward maiden launches". SpaceNews. Retrieved 29 April 2021.