ISTANBUL – Chinese rocket developer Galactic Energy on Tuesday accomplished its first sea launch in the Yellow Sea off the coast of China, deploying four satellites into orbit. It was the world’s first unsupported land and sea universal mobile platform launch and the world’s first unguided thermal sea launch of a solid rocket. Galactic Energy’s Ceres 1 rocket successfully deployed Tianqi 21-24 satellites, which are part of the Tianqi constellation operated by Beijing-based satellite operator Guodian Gaoke. This constellation, planned to be fully deployed and operational by 2024, includes 38 low-orbit satellites and multiple ground stations. The launch took place in Haiyang, Shandong, China’s sole sea launch facility capable of accommodating diverse launch requirements, including small inclination and sun-synchronous orbits.

Source: GNN Liberia September 05, 2023 17:46 UTC