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CERES 1

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Signals IntelligenceLEOCOSPAR 2021-105ALaunched 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
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
Actions

Ceres-1 payload capacity is 420 kilograms to low Earth orbit, 300 kilograms to a 500-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit, and 270 kilograms to a 700-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit.

CapabilityValue 5.0Sep 5, 2025Galactic Energy Lofts Three Satellites Into Orbit [Ceres-1 Y15]

Ceres-1 vehicles have launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and from various sea-based launch platforms.

General
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Plan
Value 3.0
Sep 5, 2025
Galactic Energy Lofts Three Satellites Into Orbit [Ceres-1 Y15]

Galactic Energy’s Eros orbital test platform replaced the Ceres-1 fourth stage for the second time to carry out in-space experiments for an undisclosed customer.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.0Sep 5, 2025Galactic Energy Lofts Three Satellites Into Orbit [Ceres-1 Y15]

Ceres-1 has a payload capacity of 300 kilograms to a 500-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit.

CapabilityValue 4.5Sep 5, 2025Galactic Energy Lofts Three Satellites Into Orbit [Ceres-1 Y15]

The third stage of Ceres-1 produces 8.8 tons of thrust using an undisclosed solid propellant.

CapabilityValue 4.0Sep 5, 2025Galactic Energy Lofts Three Satellites Into Orbit [Ceres-1 Y15]

Ceres-1 third-stage solid rocket motor produces 8.8 tons of thrust.

CapabilityValue 4.5Sep 5, 2025Galactic Energy Lofts Three Satellites Into Orbit [Ceres-1 Y15]

Ceres-1, LJ-1, and KZ-11 are possible launch candidates.

PlanValue 2.0Sep 1, 2025R to @TAbusnardo: Sept: 3 Notam (5/9 CZ-3C, 6/9 CZ-6A, 8/9 JL-3) CZ-7A widely reported for 9th CZ-8A Y4 in HCSLC and may launch at end of month CZ-5 (w/DFH-5?) also reported for very end, both may slip to Oct. CZ-2C/YZ-1S is expected for mid/late sept; JL-3 Y8 late Ceres-1, LJ-1, KZ-11 possible

Galactic Energy has attempted 17 launches of its Ceres-1 small rocket, succeeding in 16 of them.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Mar 16, 2025The Launch Bottleneck Holding up China's Starlink

Galactic Energy recorded 5 successful launches of its Ceres-1 rocket, sending a company record 23 satellites into orbit.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.5Jan 7, 2025China Space in 2024: A Review

Ceres-2 is an upgraded variant of the Ceres-1 solid rocket, which can carry 400 kg to LEO or 300 kg to a 500-kilometer SSO.

CapabilityValue 4.5Jan 2, 2025China to debut new Long March and commercial rockets in 2025

Commercial Chinese companies such as Landspace (Zhuque-2), Galactic Energy (Ceres-1), and Orienspace (Gravity-1) fell short of their planned numbers of launches in 2024.

PlanGrowthValue 3.0Dec 27, 2024China suffers commercial rocket failure but sets record for annual launches

The 2024-12-19 Ceres-1 launch was the third time a Ceres-1 rocket launched a batch of four Tianqi satellites.

PlanGeneralValue 3.6Dec 19, 2024China nears record launch year with Ceres-1 and SAR satellite missions

Galactic Energy plans at least 10 Ceres-1 solid rocket launches in 2024 and plans to debut the kerolox Pallas-1 in 2024.

PlanGrowthValue 4.0Feb 26, 2024China’s 2024 space plans include 100 launches and moon sample return mission

Galactic Energy completed a return-to-flight with the 11th Ceres-1 four-stage solid rocket launch at Jiuquan spaceport on 2023-12-04, successfully sending a pair of satellites into near-polar orbits.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.0Dec 20, 2023Chinese launch startup Galactic Energy raises $154 million for Pallas-1 reusable rocket

Galactic Energy’s Ceres-1 solid rocket is capable of delivering 400 kg to LEO and 300 kg to a 500-km SSO.

CapabilityValue 4.6Dec 20, 2023Chinese launch startup Galactic Energy raises $154 million for Pallas-1 reusable rocket

Long March 11, Jielong-3, and commercial Ceres-1 rockets have launched from the Haiyang sea-launch area.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Dec 6, 2023China launches internet technology test satellite from sea barge

Ceres-1 can lift 300 kg of payload to a 500-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit.

CapabilityValue 5.0Nov 29, 2023Satellite imagery reveals explosion at China’s Jiuquan spaceport

Galactic Energy, established in 2018, has conducted 10 orbital launches of its Ceres-1 rocket, with the latest flight being its only failure.

CapabilityGeneralValue 3.5Nov 29, 2023Satellite imagery reveals explosion at China’s Jiuquan spaceport

An investigation by Galactic Energy completed in late October concluded that abnormal ablation of a first stage engine nozzle caused the Ceres-1 rocket to lose attitude control just over a minute into the flight.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Nov 16, 2023China launches new-gen Haiyang ocean monitoring satellite

China suffered one launch failure in 2023 with the loss of a Jilin-1 remote sensing satellite aboard a commercial Ceres-1 rocket operated by Galactic Energy.

GeneralCapabilityRelationshipsValue 4.0Oct 15, 2023China launches new Yunhai remote sensing satellite