Galactic Energy (Beijing) Space Technology Co., LTD.
Galactic Energy
Company typePrivate
IndustryAerospace
FoundedFebruary 6, 2018; 5 years ago (2018-02-06)
Founders
  • Liu Baiqi
  • Xia Dongkun
Headquarters
Beijing, China
Websitewww.galactic-energy.cn/En Edit this at Wikidata
Ceres-1

Galactic Energy (Chinese: 星河动力) is a Chinese private space launch enterprise flying the Ceres-1[1][2][3] and developing the Pallas-1 and 2 orbital rockets. The company's long-term objective is to mine asteroids for rare metals and minerals.[4]

History

Galactic Energy successfully conducted its first launch in November 2020 with a Ceres-1 rocket. Galactic Energy became the second private company in China to put a satellite in orbit successfully (after i-Space) and the fourth to attempt an orbital launch (after Landspace, OneSpace, and i-Space).[5]

On 6 December 2021, Galactic Energy launched its second Ceres-1 rocket, becoming the first Chinese private firm to reach orbit twice.[6] In January 2022, the company raised $200 million for reusable launch vehicle development.[7]

Ceres-1

Main article: Ceres-1 (rocket)

Ceres-1 is a four-stage rocket, the first three stages use solid-propellant rocket motors and the final stage uses a hydrazine propulsion system. It is about 19 m (62 ft) tall and 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in) in diameter. It can deliver 400 kg (880 lb) to low Earth orbit or 300 kg (660 lb) to 500 km Sun-synchronous orbit.[8]

The first launch of Ceres-1 took place at 7 November 2020, successfully placing the Tianqi 11 (also transcribed Tiange, also known as TQ 11, and Scorpio 1, COSPAR 2020-080A) satellite in orbit.[9] The satellite's mass was about 50 kg (110 lb) and its purpose was to function as an experimental satellite offering Internet of things (IoT) communications.[10]

On 5 September 2023 the sea-launched version of the launch vehicle, designated Ceres-1S, made its debut successfully sending to orbit four Tianqi satellites. The launch took place from the DeFu 15002 converted barge (previously used also for launching the Long March 11 launch vehicle) off the coast of Haiyang.[11]

Pallas-1 and 2

Main article: Pallas-1

The Pallas-1 is a two-stage medium-lift orbital launch vehicle under development by the company.[12] It will burn RP-1 and liquid oxygen, and the first stage will have legs and grid fins to allow recovery by vertical landing (much like the SpaceX Falcon 9).[12] Pallas-1 will use kerosene fuel. The first launch is scheduled to take place in 2024.[13]

Pallas-1 is planned to be capable of placing a 5-tonne payload into low Earth orbit (LEO), or a 3-tonne payload into a 700-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit (SSO).[12][14][15] An upgraded variant of the rocket, Pallas-2 (Chinese: 智神星二号), is currently under development. Using three Pallas-1 booster cores as its first stage, Pallas-2 will be capable of putting a 14-tonne payload into low Earth orbit.[16]

Marketplace

Galactic Space is in competition with several other Chinese space rocket startups, being LandSpace, LinkSpace, ExPace, i-Space, OneSpace and Deep Blue Aerospace.[17]

Launches

Rocket & Serial Date Payload Orbit Launch Site Outcome Notes
Ceres-1 Y1 7 November 2020,
07:12 UTC[18] 		Tianqi-1 (Scorpio-1) SSO Jiuquan Success First flight of Ceres-1.
Ceres-1 Y2 7 December 2021,
04:12 UTC[19][6] 		Tianjin University-1
Lize-1
Baoyun
Golden Bauhinia-5
Golden Bauhinia-1 03 		SSO Jiuquan Success
Ceres-1 Y3 9 August 2022,
04:11 UTC[20] 		Taijing-1 01
Taijing-1 02
Donghai-1 		SSO Jiuquan Success
Ceres-1 Y4 16 November 2022,
06:19 UTC[21] 		Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D 08
Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D 51
Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D 52
Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D 53
Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D 54 		SSO Jiuquan Success
Ceres-1 Y5 9 January 2023,
05:04 UTC[22] 		Nantong Zhongxue
Tianmu-1 01
Tianmu-1 02
Xiamen Keji-1
Tianqi-13 		SSO Jiuquan Success
Ceres-1 Y6 22 July 2023,
05:07 UTC[23] 		Qiankun-1
Xingshidai-16 (Tai'an) 		SSO Jiuquan Success
Ceres-1 Y7 10 August 2023,
04:03 UTC[24] 		Diwei Zhineng Yingji-1 (Henan Ligong-1)
Xi'an Hangtou × 4
Xiguang-1 01
Xingchi-1B 		SSO Jiuquan Success
Ceres-1 Y8 25 August 2023,
04:59 UTC[25] 		Jilin-1 Kuanfu-02A (HKUST-Xiongbin-1) SSO Jiuquan Success
Ceres-1S Y1 5 September 2023,
09:34 UTC[11] 		Tianqi-21
Tianqi-22
Tianqi-23
Tianqi-24 		SSO DeFu 15002 platform,
Yellow Sea 		Success First sea-launch flight.
Ceres-1 Y11 21 September 2023,
04:59 UTC[26] 		Jilin-1 Gaofen-04B SSO Jiuquan Failure First Ceres-1 failure after 9 consecutive successful launches since 2020.
Ceres-1 Y9 4 December 2023,
23:33 UTC[27] 		Tianyan-16
Xingchi-1A 		SSO Jiuquan Success Successful return of the launch of the Ceres-1 rocket after suffering a failure in September.
Ceres-1 Y10 Q1 2024[28] LEO Jiuquan Planned
Ceres-1 2024 (TBD)[29][30] Zengzhang-1 LEO Jiuquan Planned Reentry capsule
Pallas-1 Y1 2024[13] TBA LEO TBA Planned First flight of Pallas-1.

References

  1. ^ "Chinese launch firm Galactic Energy raises US$21.5 million". SpaceNews. 9 January 2020.
  2. ^ "Satellites become key vertical within China's growing space sector". Kr ASIA. 12 May 2020.
  3. ^ "Galactic Energy Prepares Ceres-1 Rocket for First Launch". spectrum.ieee.org.
  4. ^ Davenport, Justin (9 August 2022). "Galactic Energy Ceres-1 launches three Earth observation satellites". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  5. ^ "Chinese rocket firm Galactic Energy succeeds with first orbital launch, secures funding". 7 November 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Chinese private firm Galactic Energy puts five satellites in orbit with second launch". 7 December 2021.
  7. ^ "China's Galactic Energy raises $200 million for reusable launch vehicle development". 24 January 2022.
  8. ^ "Pair of Chinese launches put classified and commercial satellites into orbit". 9 January 2023.
  9. ^ "Chinese rocket firm Galactic Energy succeeds with first orbital launch, secures funding". SpaceNews. 7 November 2020.
  10. ^ "Tianqi 10, 11, 12". Gunter's Space Page. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  11. ^ a b Jones, Andrew (5 September 2023). "Chinese Ceres-1 rocket reaches orbit with first sea launch". SpaceNews.com. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  12. ^ a b c Jones, Andrew (20 March 2020). "Galactic Energy Prepares Ceres-1 Rocket for First Launch". IEEE Spectrum. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  13. ^ a b China 'N Asia Spaceflight [@CNSpaceflight] (9 January 2023). "GAPACTIC-ENERGY's another important goal is to develop the reusable kerosene fueled rocket PALLAS-1, which is now targeted in 2024 for first launch" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. ^ Ng, Kevin James (30 September 2019). "#Ceres1 #Pallas1 – A new Medium Carrier Rocket Company Satellite launcher market set to launch two satellites..." KevinJamesNg.com. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  15. ^ Jones, Andrew (7 December 2021). "Chinese private firm Galactic Energy puts five satellites in orbit with second launch". SpaceNews. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  16. ^ "三年回望：我们为什么坚定投资星河动力" [Three-year review: Why we firmly invest in Galactic Energy]. 3sNews (in Chinese). Taibo. 20 February 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  17. ^ Doug Messier (20 December 2017). "EXPACE Raises US$182 Million for Small Satellite Launchers". Parabolic Arc.
  18. ^ Jones, Andrew (7 November 2020). "Chinese rocket firm Galactic Energy succeeds with first orbital launch, secures funding". SpaceNews. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  19. ^ "China's CERES-1 Y2 commercial rocket launches 5 satellites". Xinhua News Agency.
  20. ^ China 'N Asia Spaceflight [@CNSpaceflight] (9 August 2022). "Liftoff at 04:11 UTC on Aug. 09, GALACTIC-ENERGY successfully made the 3rd consecutive launch of solid rocket CERES-1 from Jiuquan, sending 3 satellites: Taijing-1-01/02 and Donghai-1, to orbit" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  21. ^ China 'N Asia Spaceflight [@CNSpaceflight] (16 November 2022). "Liftoff at 06:20UTC, CERES-1 Y4 successfully launched five Jilin-1-03D satellites from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  22. ^ China 'N Asia Spaceflight [@CNSpaceflight] (9 January 2023). "GIVE ME FIVE! GALACTIC-ENERGY's CERES-1 Y5 successfully launched 5 satellites from Jiuquan at ~05:04 UTC on January 09. 5 successful missions in a roll for a Chinese startup!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  23. ^ "China's commercial rocket CERES-1 Y6 launches 2 satellites". Xinhua. 22 July 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  24. ^ "China's commercial CERES-1 Y7 rocket launches 7 satellites". Xinhua. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  25. ^ "八连胜！星河动力航天顺利将吉林一号宽幅02A星送入预定轨道" [Eight consecutive successes! Galaxy Energy successfully sent the Jilin-1 Kuanfu-02A satellite into the planned orbit]. Galatic Energy (in Chinese). 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  26. ^ "Launch of Jilin-1 Gaofen-04 B satellite fails". Xinhua Net. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  27. ^ "China's commercial CERES-1 Y9 rocket launches new satellites". Xinhua. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  28. ^ China 'N Asia Spaceflight [@CNSPaceflight] (10 November 2023). "GALACTIC-ENERGY's CERES-1 nears return to flight
    🚀 CERES-1 Y9
    🏷️Mission name: We won't stop!
    2 CERES-1 launches are planned for December"     (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  29. ^ "首飞在即，民营商业飞船研发商星际开发获英诺天使基金千万元级天使投资" [First flight coming soon, private commercial spacecraft developer Interstellar Development receives 10 million yuan angel investment from Inno Angel Fund] (in Chinese). 3sNews. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  30. ^ Zhang, Lin (4 August 2021). "「星际开发」完成数千万元天使轮融资，加速商业航天领域宇宙飞船研发" ["Interstellar Development" completes tens of millions of yuan in angel round financing, accelerating spacecraft research and development in the commercial aerospace field] (in Chinese). 36Kr. Retrieved 11 August 2021.

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