China's commercial rocket sends new batch of satellites into orbit

China on Thursday launched four new satellites for the Tianqi constellation from the waters near east China's Shandong Province to a low-Earth orbit (LEO) at an altitude of 850 kilometers and an inclination of 45 degrees.

The satellite batch, Tianqi 33-36, was launched atop a sea-based version of the commercial CERES-1 rocket by Galactic Energy. It was the fourth launch of this type of carrier rocket.

About the Tianqi Constellation

The Tianqi Constellation is China's first low-orbit Internet of Things (IoT) data communication Constellation. The initial phase comprises 38 satellites.

Featuring global coverage, miniaturization, low power consumption, and cost-effectiveness, the constellation provides consumer-grade satellite IoT data services to global users, covering space, air, ground and sea. 

It has been widely applied in industries such as forestry, agriculture, emergency response, tourism, water conservancy, electric power, oil, marine, ecological environment, smart cities, and the digital economy.

About the rocket developer Galactic Energy

The mission was conducted by the Chinese private firm Galactic Energy. The company has completed 15 commercial rocket launch missions so far, delivering 58 commercial satellites with different functions into preset orbits.

The CERES-1 is currently the only commercial rocket model in China that can be launched from land or sea. Apart from the CERES-1 rocket, the company is speeding up the development of its reusable liquid carrier rocket known as the PALLAS-1.

CGTN's Zhao Chenchen also contributed to this story.

(Cover: The CERES-1 rocket blasts off from the waters near east China's Shandong Province, December 19, 2024. Guo Jinqi/CGTN)