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CERES 2

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Signals IntelligenceLEOCOSPAR 2021-105BLaunched 11/16/2021
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Mission & Launch
Launch Mission
CERES 1-3
Launch Vehicle
Vega
Launch Date
11/16/2021
Orbit & Mass
Orbit Class
LEO
Altitude
671.5 km
Inclination
74.85 deg
Dry Mass
400 kg
Total Mass
446 kg
Payload Classification
Mission Type
Signals Intelligence
Payload Category
SIG
Payload Class
D
Organizations
Operator
French Armament General Directorate (DGA)
Manufacturer
Airbus
Registry
COSPAR ID
2021-105B
UN Registration
ST/SG/SER.E/1047
Track
Mentions
74
All verified mentions of this spacecraft in source documents.
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Galactic Energy completed a failure investigation into Ceres-2 in June 2026.

GeneralValue 2.0Jun 20, 2026Galactic Energy Says Ceres-2 Debut Failure Caused by Faulty Nozzle

Ceres-2 is a four-stage launch vehicle that uses mostly solid rocket propellant.

Capability
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Value 4.0
Jun 20, 2026
Galactic Energy Says Ceres-2 Debut Failure Caused by Faulty Nozzle

Galactic Energy determined that the Ceres-2 flight failure was caused by insufficient design margin in the support structure of the rear section of the first-stage nozzle throat liner.

CapabilityValue 4.0Jun 20, 2026Galactic Energy Says Ceres-2 Debut Failure Caused by Faulty Nozzle

Galactic Energy verified that its corrective measures for Ceres-2 were effective through ground testing.

CapabilityGeneralValue 2.6Jun 20, 2026Galactic Energy Says Ceres-2 Debut Failure Caused by Faulty Nozzle

The Ceres-2 maiden flight failed shortly after liftoff and destroyed the rocket and several customer satellites.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Jun 20, 2026Galactic Energy Says Ceres-2 Debut Failure Caused by Faulty Nozzle

Galactic Energy attempted to launch its Ceres-2 rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on January 17, 2026.

PlanGeneralValue 3.6Jun 20, 2026Galactic Energy Says Ceres-2 Debut Failure Caused by Faulty Nozzle

Galactic Energy concluded that the Ceres-2 issue was resolved after applying lessons learned to prevent similar failures.

CapabilityValue 3.5Jun 20, 2026Galactic Energy Says Ceres-2 Debut Failure Caused by Faulty Nozzle

Galactic Energy reproduced the Ceres-2 failure mode in ground tests and simulations.

CapabilityValue 3.0Jun 20, 2026Galactic Energy Says Ceres-2 Debut Failure Caused by Faulty Nozzle

Ceres-1 has not flown since the Ceres-2 failure.

GeneralValue 2.5Jun 20, 2026Galactic Energy Says Ceres-2 Debut Failure Caused by Faulty Nozzle

Galactic Energy’s first Ceres-2 failed on January 17 early into flight.

GeneralValue 3.6Mar 8, 2026With a Prolonged Pause, Where Are China's Launches?

The Ceres 2 mission experienced a failure on a commercial launcher that shared the same flight termination system (FTS) in February 2026.

GeneralCapabilityValue 4.0Mar 1, 2026After a slow February caused by -Spring festival -Consequence of CZ3B (on LH2 launcher) & Ceres 2 (on com. launcher sharing same FTS) failures -All hands on deck for CZ-10 test at WSLC the chinese space sector is preparing for a busier march, although full ramp up may take weeks

There is a rumor that the Ceres-2 flight termination system (FTS) activated late during the launch.

GeneralValue 2.0Feb 6, 2026Ceres-2 footage from Galactic Energy's video. RUMOR says the FTS activated late (one description of the launch kinda fits with that rumor too).

Ceres-2 crashed near or inside the parameter of JSLC.

GeneralValue 4.0Jan 31, 2026Regular launch resumes after Ceres-2 crashed near or inside the parameter of JSLC. CZ-2C launched Alsat-3B. One CZ-7A and one CZ-8A have been postponed may be due to the 3rd stage failure of the CZ-3B.

Galactic Energy is preparing the debut launch of its larger Ceres 2 solid propellant vehicle from Jiuquan to offer higher-capacity services to domestic and international customers.

PlanCapabilityGrowthValue 4.2Jan 31, 2026China sea launch boosts private rocket activity in 2026

The Flight Termination System (FTS) was triggered on the Ceres-2.

CapabilityValue 4.0Jan 22, 2026Based on the person who watched the launch. Looks like the FTS was triggered on the Ceres-2 and vehicle crashed near the launch pad.

The Ceres-2 vehicle crashed near the launch pad.

GeneralCapabilityValue 4.0Jan 22, 2026Based on the person who watched the launch. Looks like the FTS was triggered on the Ceres-2 and vehicle crashed near the launch pad.

The debut launch of the solid Ceres-2 from Jiuquan at 0408 UTC on January 17, 2026, also failed.

PlanGeneralValue 3.5Jan 19, 2026Normal service resumes, with a Long March 12 (expendable) lifting off from Hainan at 0748 UTC today, delivering the 19th group of Guowang satellites (developed by commercial company GalaxySpace) into orbit. Crowds got a good view.

Pictures taken around the Ceres-2 launch show Tianlong 3 in a vertical position.

CapabilityValue 2.0Jan 18, 2026Tianlong 3 is vertical again, according to pictures taken around the Ceres-2 launch, it's been 2 months since it arrived at Jiuquan, we're waiting...

GALACTIC-ENERGY's CERES-2 rocket failed to achieve orbit on its maiden flight.

GeneralValue 4.0Jan 17, 2026Compounding today's earlier Long March 3B failure, the maiden flight of GALACTIC-ENERGY's CERES-2 rocket did not achieve orbit.

GALACTIC-ENERGY released the mission patch of CERES-2's debut launch.

GeneralValue 2.0Jan 17, 2026Compounding today's earlier Long March 3B failure, the maiden flight of GALACTIC-ENERGY's CERES-2 rocket did not achieve orbit.