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CERES 1

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Signals IntelligenceLEOCOSPAR 2021-105ALaunched 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
670.5 km
Inclination
75 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
2021-105A
UN Registration
ST/SG/SER.E/1047
Track
Mentions
199
All verified mentions of this spacecraft in source documents.
0.0-5.0
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The payload of the Ceres-1 launch is bound for mid-inclination Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

CapabilityGeneralValue 3.0Jan 15, 2026Thousands of km away, also January 15 but ~20:05 UTC, one long-floated-around sea launch of Galactic Energy's Ceres-1 seems to be finally happening, w/ some ship hosting it just off Rizhao harbor in Shandong. Again I've no idea what's on top except it's bound for mid-incl. LEO...
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The first-stage of Ceres-1 produces 60 tons of thrust using a solid rocket motor with an undisclosed solid propellant.

CapabilityValue 4.0Jan 15, 2026Commercial Sea Launch Lofts Four Internet of Things Satellites [Ceres-1S Y7]

The Ceres-1 mission is bound for a mid-inclination Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

PlanValue 3.0Jan 15, 2026Coming up in about 1.5 hours is the next Chinese launch to orbit, where residents of Rizhao port on the Yellow Sea coast in Shandong will see - and hear - an early 4 am sunrise when this Galactic Energy Ceres-1S rocket launches just off-shore:

The Ceres-1S mission was the 6th mission for the Ceres-1S and the 23rd launch in the Ceres-1 launch vehicle series.

GeneralPlanValue 3.0Jan 15, 2026Commercial Sea Launch Lofts Four Internet of Things Satellites [Ceres-1S Y7]

Ceres-1's fourth stage burns storable liquid Monomethylhydrazine and mixed oxides of nitrogen fuel to generate 1 ton of thrust.

CapabilityValue 4.0Jan 15, 2026Commercial Sea Launch Lofts Four Internet of Things Satellites [Ceres-1S Y7]

Ceres-1 weighs 33,000 kilograms and stands 20 meters tall.

CapabilityValue 4.0Jan 15, 2026Commercial Sea Launch Lofts Four Internet of Things Satellites [Ceres-1S Y7]

The Long March 6A flew 10 times in 2025, the Long March 2D flew 7 times, and the Long March 7A, Long March 8A, and Galactic Energy’s Ceres-1 each flew 6 times.

GeneralPlanGrowthValue 4.0Jan 1, 2026China Continues Space Progress Through 2025

Tianqi-11 was launched on November 7th as the sole satellite aboard the maiden Ceres-1 flight from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.3Dec 12, 2025China's mega-constellations mega-article

Tianqi-13 was launched on January 9th on a Ceres-1 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Dec 12, 2025China's mega-constellations mega-article

Galactic Energy has attempted 22 launches of its Ceres-1 rocket, achieving 20 successes.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.5Nov 23, 2025Sizing Up China's Commercial Launchers

The Ceres-1 (Y19) launch vehicle experienced a mission failure when its orbital control engine shut down abnormally early, failing to place the satellite into orbit.

GeneralCapabilityValue 4.0Nov 22, 2025Galactic Energy Fires Reusable Rocket Engine, Discloses Cause of Ceres-1 Failure

Galactic Energy completed an investigation into the Ceres-1 Y19 vehicle failure that occurred on November 10th.

GeneralCapabilityValue 3.0Nov 22, 2025Galactic Energy Fires Reusable Rocket Engine, Discloses Cause of Ceres-1 Failure

GALACTIC-ENERGY completed the investigation of the failed CERES-1 Y19 mission.

GeneralCapabilityValue 2.0Nov 20, 2025GALACTIC-ENERGY completed the investigation of the failed CERES-1 Y19 mission. The fault was traced to the following sequence: Under prolonged high-temperature thermal radiation, the control cable of the 2500N upper-stage engine experienced excessive temperature rise. This caused the PTFE insulation layer to fail, resulting in a short circuit in the solenoid valve power supply. Consequently, the engine shut down prematurely and failed to inject the satellites into the intended orbit

The fault in the CERES-1 Y19 mission was traced to excessive temperature rise in the control cable of the 2500N upper-stage engine under prolonged high-temperature thermal radiation.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Nov 20, 2025GALACTIC-ENERGY completed the investigation of the failed CERES-1 Y19 mission. The fault was traced to the following sequence: Under prolonged high-temperature thermal radiation, the control cable of the 2500N upper-stage engine experienced excessive temperature rise. This caused the PTFE insulation layer to fail, resulting in a short circuit in the solenoid valve power supply. Consequently, the engine shut down prematurely and failed to inject the satellites into the intended orbit

The Ceres-1 rocket was involved in its second reported failure in 22 missions.

GeneralValue 2.5Nov 12, 2025China's Galactic Energy fails Ceres-1 rocket satellite mission launch

The first three stages and separations of the Ceres-1 rocket operated as planned.

PlanCapabilityValue 3.0Nov 12, 2025China's Galactic Energy fails Ceres-1 rocket satellite mission launch

The Ceres-1 rocket made its debut in November 2020.

PlanValue 3.2Nov 12, 2025China's Galactic Energy fails Ceres-1 rocket satellite mission launch

The Ceres-1 Y-19 rocket took off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at around 11:02 p.m. EST.

PlanGeneralValue 1.2Nov 12, 2025China's Galactic Energy fails Ceres-1 rocket satellite mission launch

The Ceres-1 Y-19 rocket by Galactic Energy is 62 feet tall.

CapabilityValue 4.0Nov 12, 2025China's Galactic Energy fails Ceres-1 rocket satellite mission launch

The private company Galactic Energy's solid rocket Ceres-1 was launched on November 10, but an anomaly occurred in the upper stage, resulting in the loss of three satellites on board.

CapabilityPlanValue 4.5Nov 11, 2025中国、ロケットの年間打ち上げ記録を更新–2日間で4機、2024年は68回