Galactic Energy

{{Infobox company

| name = Galactic Energy (Beijing) Space Technology Co., LTD.

| trade_name = Galactic Energy

| logo = Galactic_Energy_Logo,_2022.png

| logo_size = 150px

| type = Private

| foundation = {{Start date and age|2018|02|06}}

| location_city = Beijing, China

| founders = {{Hlist|Liu Baiqi|Xia Dongkun}}

| industry = Aerospace

| homepage = {{Official URL}}

}}

File:CERES-1.png

Galactic Energy ({{zh|s=星河动力|link=no}}) is a Chinese private space launch enterprise flying the Ceres-1{{cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/chinese-launch-firm-galactic-energy-raises-21-5-million/|title=Chinese launch firm Galactic Energy raises US$21.5 million|date=9 January 2020|publisher=SpaceNews}}{{cite web|url=https://kr-asia.com/satellites-become-key-vertical-within-chinas-growing-space-sector |title=Satellites become key vertical within China's growing space sector|date=12 May 2020|publisher=Kr ASIA}}{{cite web |url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/amp/galactic-energy-prepares-ceres1-rocket-first-launch-2650279811|title=Galactic Energy Prepares Ceres-1 Rocket for First Launch |website=IEEE}} and developing the Pallas-1 orbital rockets. The company's long-term objective is to mine asteroids for rare metals and minerals.{{cite web |last1=Davenport |first1=Justin |title=Galactic Energy Ceres-1 launches three Earth observation satellites |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/08/ceres-1-three-earth-observation/ |website=NASASpaceFlight.com |access-date=13 August 2022 |date=9 August 2022}}

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).{{cite web | url=https://spacenews.com/chinese-rocket-firm-galactic-energy-succeeds-with-first-orbital-launch-secures-funding/ | title=Chinese rocket firm Galactic Energy succeeds with first orbital launch, secures funding | date=7 November 2020 }}

On 6 December 2021, Galactic Energy launched its second Ceres-1 rocket, becoming the first Chinese private firm to reach orbit twice.{{cite web | url=https://spacenews.com/chinese-private-firm-galactic-energy-puts-five-satellites-in-orbit-with-second-launch/ | title=Chinese private firm Galactic Energy puts five satellites in orbit with second launch | date=7 December 2021 }} In January 2022, the company raised $200 million for reusable launch vehicle development.{{cite web | url=https://spacenews.com/chinas-galactic-energy-raises-200-million-for-reusable-launch-vehicle-development/ | title=China's Galactic Energy raises $200 million for reusable launch vehicle development | date=24 January 2022 }}

Ceres-1

Ceres-1 ({{lang-zh|link=no|s=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 {{cvt|19|m}} tall and {{cvt|1.4|m}} in diameter. It can deliver {{cvt|400|kg}} to low Earth orbit or {{cvt|300|kg}} to 500 km Sun-synchronous orbit.{{cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/pair-of-chinese-launches-put-classified-and-commercial-satellites-into-orbit/|title=Pair of Chinese launches put classified and commercial satellites into orbit |date=9 January 2023 }}

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.{{cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/chinese-rocket-firm-galactic-energy-succeeds-with-first-orbital-launch-secures-funding/|title=Chinese rocket firm Galactic Energy succeeds with first orbital launch, secures funding|date=7 November 2020|publisher=SpaceNews}} The satellite's mass was about {{cvt|50|kg}} and its purpose was to function as an experimental satellite offering Internet of things (IoT) communications.{{cite web|url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/tianqi-10.htm|title=Tianqi 10, 11, 12|publisher=Gunter's Space Page|date=31 August 2021|access-date=8 December 2021}}

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.{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |url=https://spacenews.com/chinese-ceres-1-rocket-reaches-orbit-with-first-sea-launch/ |title=Chinese Ceres-1 rocket reaches orbit with first sea launch |date=5 September 2023 |access-date=5 September 2023 |work=SpaceNews.com}}

Pallas-1

The Pallas-1 ({{lang-zh|link=no|s=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).{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/galactic-energy-prepares-ceres1-rocket-first-launch |title=Galactic Energy Prepares Ceres-1 Rocket for First Launch |work=IEEE Spectrum |date=20 March 2020 |access-date=8 September 2021}}

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).{{cite web |url=https://www.galactic-energy.cn/index.php/En/List/cid/15 |work=Galatic Energy |access-date=12 April 2024 |title=Galactic Energy }}

Marketplace

Galactic Space is in competition with several other Chinese space rocket startups, being LandSpace, LinkSpace, ExPace, i-Space, OneSpace and Deep Blue Aerospace.{{cite news|url=http://www.parabolicarc.com/2017/12/20/expace-raises-182-million-small-satellite-launchers/|title=EXPACE Raises US$182 Million for Small Satellite Launchers|date=20 December 2017|author=Doug Messier|publisher=Parabolic Arc|access-date=8 November 2020|archive-date=4 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204225826/http://www.parabolicarc.com/2017/12/20/expace-raises-182-million-small-satellite-launchers/|url-status=dead}}

Launches

class="wikitable"

! Rocket & Serial

! Date

! Payload

! Orbit

! Launch Site

! Outcome

! Notes

Ceres-1 Y1

| 7 November 2020,
07:12 UTC{{cite web|last=Jones|first=Andrew|url=https://spacenews.com/chinese-rocket-firm-galactic-energy-succeeds-with-first-orbital-launch-secures-funding/|title=Chinese rocket firm Galactic Energy succeeds with first orbital launch, secures funding|publisher=SpaceNews|date=7 November 2020|access-date=29 April 2021}}

| Tianqi-1 (Scorpio-1)