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 orbital rockets. The company's long-term objective is to mine asteroids for rare metals and minerals.[4]
 | |
| Galactic Energy | |
| Company type | Private |
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | February 6, 2018 |
| Founders |
|
| Headquarters | Beijing, China |
| Website | www |
History
editGalactic 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
editCeres-1 (Chinese: 谷神星一号) 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
editThe Pallas-1 (Chinese: 智神星一号) is a two-stage medium-lift orbital launch vehicle currently in development, with its inaugural flight anticipated in the third quarter of 2024. The first stage will have legs and grid fins to allow recovery by vertical landing (much like the SpaceX Falcon 9).[12] The first stage of Pallas-1 uses seven “CQ-50” liquid oxygen/kerosene engines, with a lift-off mass of 283 tons and a maximum payload capacity to low Earth orbit (LEO) of 8 tons. Using three Pallas-1 booster cores as its first stage, the rocket will be capable of putting a 17.5-tonne payload into low Earth orbit (LEO).[13]
Marketplace
editGalactic Space is in competition with several other Chinese space rocket startups, being LandSpace, LinkSpace, ExPace, i-Space, OneSpace and Deep Blue Aerospace.[14]
Launches
edit| Rocket & Serial | Date | Payload | Orbit | Launch Site | Outcome | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceres-1 Y1 | 7 November 2020, 07:12 UTC[15] |
Tianqi-1 (Scorpio-1) | SSO | Jiuquan | Success | First flight of Ceres-1. |
| Ceres-1 Y2 | 7 December 2021, 04:12 UTC[16][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[17] |
Taijing-1 01 Taijing-1 02 Donghai-1 |
SSO | Jiuquan | Success | |
| Ceres-1 Y4 | 16 November 2022, 06:19 UTC[18] |
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[19] |
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[20] |
Qiankun-1 Xingshidai-16 (Tai'an) |
SSO | Jiuquan | Success | |
| Ceres-1 Y7 | 10 August 2023, 04:03 UTC[21] |
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[22] |
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[23] |
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[24] |
Tianyan-16 Xingchi-1A |
SSO | Jiuquan | Success | Successful return of the launch of the Ceres-1 rocket after suffering a failure in September. |
| Ceres-1S Y2 | 29 May 2024, 08:12 UTC[25] |
Tianqi-25 Tianqi-26 Tianqi-27 Tianqi-28 |
LEO | Special converted barge (Dong Fang Hang Tian Gang) Offshore waters of Rizhao, Yellow Sea |
Success | |
| Ceres-1 Y12 | 30 May 2024, 23:39 UTC[26] |
Jiguang 01 & 02 Yunyao-1 (14,25,26) |
SSO | Jiuquan | Success | |
| Ceres-1 Y13 | 6 June 2024, 05:00 UTC[27] |
TEE-01B Naxing-3A/B |
SSO | Jiuquan | Success | |
| Ceres-1S Y3 | 29 August 2024, 05:22 UTC[28] |
Yunyao-1 (15,16,17) Jitianxing A-03 Suxing 1-01 Tianfu Gaofen 2 |
SSO | Special converted barge (Dong Fang Hang Tian Gang) Offshore waters of Rizhao, Yellow Sea |
Success | |
| Ceres-1 Y? | Net 2024 | Unknown Payload | SSO | Jiuquan | Planned | |
| Ceres-1 | 2024 | Zengzhang-1 | LEO | Jiuquan | Planned | Reentry capsule |
| Pallas-1 Y1 | 2024[31] | TBA | LEO | TBA | Planned | First flight of Pallas-1. |
References
edit- ^ "Chinese launch firm Galactic Energy raises US$21.5 million". SpaceNews. 9 January 2020.
- ^ "Satellites become key vertical within China's growing space sector". Kr ASIA. 12 May 2020.
- ^ "Galactic Energy Prepares Ceres-1 Rocket for First Launch". IEEE.
- ^ Davenport, Justin (9 August 2022). "Galactic Energy Ceres-1 launches three Earth observation satellites". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- ^ "Chinese rocket firm Galactic Energy succeeds with first orbital launch, secures funding". 7 November 2020.
- ^ a b "Chinese private firm Galactic Energy puts five satellites in orbit with second launch". 7 December 2021.
- ^ "China's Galactic Energy raises $200 million for reusable launch vehicle development". 24 January 2022.
- ^ "Pair of Chinese launches put classified and commercial satellites into orbit". 9 January 2023.
- ^ "Chinese rocket firm Galactic Energy succeeds with first orbital launch, secures funding". SpaceNews. 7 November 2020.
- ^ "Tianqi 10, 11, 12". Gunter's Space Page. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ a b Jones, Andrew (5 September 2023). "Chinese Ceres-1 rocket reaches orbit with first sea launch". SpaceNews.com. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- ^ Jones, Andrew (20 March 2020). "Galactic Energy Prepares Ceres-1 Rocket for First Launch". IEEE Spectrum. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ "Galactic Energy". Galatic Energy. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ^ Doug Messier (20 December 2017). "EXPACE Raises US$182 Million for Small Satellite Launchers". Parabolic Arc. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
- ^ Jones, Andrew (7 November 2020). "Chinese rocket firm Galactic Energy succeeds with first orbital launch, secures funding". SpaceNews. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
- ^ "China's CERES-1 Y2 commercial rocket launches 5 satellites". Xinhua News Agency.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "China's commercial rocket CERES-1 Y6 launches 2 satellites". Xinhua. 22 July 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ "China's commercial CERES-1 Y7 rocket launches 7 satellites". Xinhua. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Launch of Jilin-1 Gaofen-04 B satellite fails". Xinhua Net. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- ^ "China's commercial CERES-1 Y9 rocket launches new satellites". Xinhua. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
- ^ "China's commercial rocket launches satellites from sea". Xinhua. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ "Chinese rocket launches 5 satellites into space". Xinhua. 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ "China's commercial CERES-1 rocket launches 3 satellites". Xinhua. 6 June 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "China's commercial CERES-1 rocket launches satellites from sea". Xinhua. 29 August 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ China 'N Asia Spaceflight [@CNSpaceflight] (10 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.
