Shandong's latest commercial launch sends 4 satellites into orbit

[Video provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A Ceres-1S Y7 carrier rocket successfully blasted off from waters off Rizhao in East China's Shandong province on Jan 16, sending four Tianqi constellation satellites into planned orbit.

The rocket, assembled at the Haiyang Oriental Aerospace Port in Yantai, was launched in a "one rocket, four satellites" mission. This is the sixth straight successful sea launch for the Ceres-1S since September 2023.

The Tianqi constellation is China's first low-orbit satellite network for Internet of Things communication, designed to provide global, cost-effective data services. The latest launch will enhance its service capability, promoting the scaled application of new satellite communication services in China.

The Ceres-1S Y7 carrier rocket is launched off the coast of Rizhao, Shandong, early on the morning of Jan 16. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

As China's sole commercial sea-launch mother port, the Haiyang Oriental Aerospace Port has now supported 22 offshore launch missions, deploying a total of 137 satellites into space. The local aerospace industry, built from scratch since 2019, has attracted over 32.2 billion yuan ($4.62 billion) in investment.

Haiyang aims to solidify its position as a world-class commercial sea launch hub, with plans to develop a comprehensive industrial park encompassing rocket manufacturing, satellite R&D, and related applications by 2030.