Chinese rocket firm Galactic Energy has experienced its first rocket launch failure with its tenth launch attempt.
Airspace closure notices observed the rocket launch failure from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China yesterday.
The window passed without notification of a launch, which would typically follow within an hour of liftoff.
Galactic Energy published an article confirming the loss of a Ceres-1 rocket and its payload via its WeChat social network account roughly six hours after launch.
The rocket launch failure is an unusual anomaly for China
The company stated a four-stage Ceres-1 solid rocket lifted off from Jiuquan, carrying the Jilin-1 Gaofen-04B satellite for commercial remote sensing firm Changguang Satellite Technology.
The specific reasons for the rocket launch failure are being further analysed and investigated, according to the Galactic Energy statement.
The launch was the firm’s first major setback. All of its nine previous rocket launches, which started in November 2021, were successful.
Galactic Energy had been executing a high-density period of rocket launches, carrying out four missions between 22 July and 5 September, including a first launch from a mobile sea platform off the coast of Shandong province.
The launch was China’s 44th orbital mission of 2023 and the first launch failure.
China’s state-owned main contractor has carried out 30 launches so far of a planned 60 or more, suggesting an intense period of launch activity in the remaining months of the year.
What’s next for Galactic Energy?
Following the unexpected rocket launch failure, Galactic Energy is now preparing for the first launch of its Pallas-1 kerosene-liquid oxygen launcher.
The reusable two-stage Pallas-1 will be capable of carrying 5,000 kilograms to Low Earth Orbit or 3,000 kg to 700 km Sun-synchronous orbit.
The company announced last year that it intends to expand its Jilin-1 constellation from a planned 138 satellites to 300 satellites by 2025.
Galactic Energy’s impressive record up to this week’s launch failure appears to have secured vital contracts to launch Jilin-1 satellites.
