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CERES 2

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Signals IntelligenceLEOCOSPAR 2021-105BLaunched 11/16/2021
Admin Edit
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.
0.0-5.0
Actions

The first, second, and third stages of Ceres-2 are powered by solid rocket motors that burn an undisclosed solid propellant.

CapabilityValue 4.0Jan 17, 2026New Commercial Rocket Fails During Debut Mission [Ceres-2 Y1]

Ceres-2 has flown from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and has plans for future missions from various sea-based launch platforms.

Plan
Page3of4
General
Value 4.0
Jan 17, 2026
New Commercial Rocket Fails During Debut Mission [Ceres-2 Y1]

Ceres-2’s failure occurred about two days after Galactic Energy’s Ceres-1 returned to flight following a failure in November 2025.

PlanValue 2.5Jan 17, 2026New Commercial Rocket Fails During Debut Mission [Ceres-2 Y1]

Galactic Energy’s Ceres-2 is a four-stage launch vehicle that uses solid propellant in the first three stages and a storable propellant in the fourth stage.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Jan 17, 2026New Commercial Rocket Fails During Debut Mission [Ceres-2 Y1]

Ceres-2 was lifted off from JSLC on January 17, 2026.

PlanValue 4.0Jan 17, 2026NOT looking good

Ceres-2’s published payload capacity is 1,600 kilograms to low Earth orbit.

CapabilityValue 4.5Jan 17, 2026New Commercial Rocket Fails During Debut Mission [Ceres-2 Y1]

The maiden launch of Ceres-2 has been confirmed as a failure.

GeneralPlanValue 4.0Jan 17, 2026Confirmed failure of the Ceres-2’s maiden launch.

The January 17 mission was the first flight of the Ceres-2 launch vehicle and the 24th launch of the Ceres series from Galactic Energy.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Jan 17, 2026New Commercial Rocket Fails During Debut Mission [Ceres-2 Y1]

Ceres-2 lifted off from the JSLC on January 17, 2026.

PlanGeneralValue 4.5Jan 17, 2026Long waited Ceres-2 was lifted-off from JSLC

Galactic Energy's Ceres-2 rocket is likely debuting on December 15, 2025 at approximately 04:05 UTC.

PlanValue 4.0Jan 15, 2026Did I say there's a new launcher debuting AND a private LSP's launching twice in less than 2 days? Well you probably know what I want to say, because after delays for 2 whole months, it seems Galactic Energy's Ceres-2 is trying to launch again, this time on January 17 ~04:05 UTC!

Galactic Energy's Ceres-2 rocket is scheduled to launch on January 17, 2026 at approximately 04:05 UTC.

PlanValue 4.5Jan 15, 2026Did I say there's a new launcher debuting AND a private LSP's launching twice in less than 2 days? Well you probably know what I want to say, because after delays for 2 whole months, it seems Galactic Energy's Ceres-2 is trying to launch again, this time on January 17 ~04:05 UTC!

Ceres-2, TL-3, and LJ-2 are already at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC).

PlanGeneralValue 2.0Jan 1, 2026Much clearer version of Chinese rockets which plan to have maiden launch within 2026. Ceres-2 , TL-3 & LJ-2 are already at JSLC and National team usually keeps its timetable. Pallas-1 , ZH-1 & Nebula-1 have full rocket ready. I am guessing 9/13 are likely could make it.

Ceres-2, TL-3, and LJ-2 are currently at the JSLC.

GeneralPlanValue 2.0Jan 1, 2026Much clearer version of Chinese rockets which plan to have maiden launch within 2026. Ceres-2 , TL-3 & LJ-2 are already at JSLC and National team usually keeps its timetable. Pallas-1 , ZH-1 & Nebula-1 have full rocket ready. I am guessing 9/13 are likely could make it.

Galactic Energy plans to have the maiden flight of the Pallas-1 and Ceres-2 rockets in 2025.

PlanCapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Dec 31, 2025Recap of the plan which Chinese LSPs made in the beginning of 2025.

Galactic Energy's Ceres-2 solid rocket is set for launch from Jiuquan at approximately 0400 UTC on December 27.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Dec 24, 2025Another rocket debut coming up: the Vega C-class Ceres-2 solid rocket from Chinese startup Galactic Energy is set for launch from Jiuquan at ~0400 UTC Dec. 27.

Ground tests for the Ceres-2 rocket are progressing well ahead of its first launch.

PlanValue 3.5Dec 24, 2025Another rocket debut coming up: the Vega C-class Ceres-2 solid rocket from Chinese startup Galactic Energy is set for launch from Jiuquan at ~0400 UTC Dec. 27.

Galactic Energy is a Chinese startup that is launching the Vega C-class Ceres-2 solid rocket.

PlanGeneralValue 3.8Dec 24, 2025Another rocket debut coming up: the Vega C-class Ceres-2 solid rocket from Chinese startup Galactic Energy is set for launch from Jiuquan at ~0400 UTC Dec. 27.

The Vega C-class Ceres-2 solid rocket is scheduled to launch from Jiuquan at approximately 0400 UTC on December 27.

PlanValue 4.0Dec 24, 2025Another rocket debut coming up: the Vega C-class Ceres-2 solid rocket from Chinese startup Galactic Energy is set for launch from Jiuquan at ~0400 UTC Dec. 27.

The net expected launch date (NET) for Ceres-2 is 2026.

PlanValue 4.0Dec 22, 2025Galactic Energy shared recent pictures of Pallas LC Pallas-1 Y1 expected to be delivered at JSLC at the end of dec. + Launch in HCSLC in Q4 2026. As for Ceres-2... there have been rumors for past week that it was damaged during erection on TEL, & NET 2026 https://x.com/TAbusnardo/status/1984628316733583595

Ceres-2 is currently scheduled for a no earlier than (NET) 2026 launch.

PlanValue 4.0Dec 22, 2025Galactic Energy shared recent pictures of Pallas LC Pallas-1 Y1 expected to be delivered at JSLC at the end of dec. + Launch in HCSLC in Q4 2026. As for Ceres-2... there have been rumors for past week that it was damaged during erection on TEL, & NET 2026 https://x.com/TAbusnardo/status/1984628316733583595