China's CERES-1 commercial rocket sends 8 satellites into preset orbit

China's CERES-1 commercial rocket put eight satellites into the 535-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit on Monday.

The carrier rocket, CERES-1 Y10, blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 4:07 p.m. on March 17 on a mission dubbed "Auld Lang Syne." It delivered five satellites, including the Yunyao-1 55-60 and the AIRSAT-06 and -07 satellites. 

Yunyao-1 is a series of commercial meteorological satellites developed by Tianjin-based Yunyao Aerospace, aiming to form a constellation of 90 satellites. The recently launched satellites are equipped with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) occultation detection payloads to collect atmospheric temperature, humidity, pressure, and ionospheric electron density data.

The constellation's objective is to establish a real-time global atmospheric and ionospheric detection system to enhance weather forecasting and support various industries. Yunyao Aerospace plans to provide meteorological forecast information, with updates every 20 minutes or better, for Belt and Road partner countries.

The Beijing-based rocket company Galactic Energy has carried out 17 launches, its most recent mission being China's first commercial launch of the year. The company is also developing two additional rocket types: the CERES-2, a solid-propellant carrier rocket with a payload capacity of 1.6 tonnes to a 500 km low Earth orbit (LEO), and the Pallas-1, a medium-to-large-sized reusable liquid launch vehicle with a lift-off mass of 283 tonnes and a payload capacity of 8 tonnes to LEO. The maiden flight for the CCERES-2 is scheduled for June 2025. Meanwhile, the first Pallas-1 flight is expected to occur within the first half of this year.