Yesterday at 17:34, private rocket company Xinghe Power Aerospace from Beijing successfully completed the launch mission of the Ceres Star 1 sea launched (Yaoyi) carrier rocket in Haiyang and nearby waters in Shandong, successfully sending 21 to 24 stars of the Tianqi constellation into an 800 kilometer predetermined orbit. This is the first time that a private rocket company in China has successfully launched an offshore launch mission. Previously, the Ceres Star 1 carrier rocket had successfully launched 8 consecutive land launches. Unlike land launch, launching satellites at sea is a new mode with strong flexibility, good task adaptability, and excellent launch economy. It can flexibly select launch points and landing areas, meet various orbital payload launch needs, and effectively solve long-term concerns about landing safety issues from the outside world. However, due to the high difficulty of maritime launch technology, only a few countries in the world have the ability to implement it. At 17:34 on September 5th, China's Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center successfully launched four satellites from 21 to 24 in the Tianqi Constellation into their intended orbit using the Gushenxing 1 sea launched carrier rocket in Haiyang and nearby waters in Shandong. The launch mission was a complete success. Xinhua News Agency (photographed by Andy) This is the first private rocket launch at sea in China, and it is also the first commercial space vehicle in China to enter an inclined orbit of 800 kilometers. In terms of technological development, there are many innovations in the Ceres Star series rockets this time, such as the integration technology of rocket final stage structure, power, and electrical integration, and low-cost and no reliance on land sea universal transfer launch vehicle technology. The person in charge of Xinghe Power Aerospace stated that this time, the successful experience of land launch will be further expanded to sea launch. In response to the moving base launch environment under sea shaking conditions, the Ceres Star 1 sea launched carrier rocket will use unguided thermal launch for the first time. The launch vehicle is fixed after boarding the ship, and only a magnesium belt locking mechanism is added at the tail end of the rocket. The structure is simple, the operation is convenient, and the requirements for ground support conditions are relatively low. The magnesium belt locking mechanism ensures the upright safety of the rocket under shaking conditions before ignition, and can be ablated and unlocked after ignition, ensuring reliable takeoff of the rocket. The 21 to 24 stars of the Tianqi Constellation are low orbit data acquisition satellites developed by Beijing Guodian High tech Technology Co., Ltd. They are a component of the Tianqi Constellation. The constellation is planned to be deployed and operated in 2024. It is a "low orbit satellite IoT constellation" composed of 38 satellites and several ground stations. It can provide global coverage, quasi real-time IoT data services for low orbit satellites, and build a low orbit satellite IoT ecosystem that integrates heaven and earth. Since the first satellite launch and operation in 2018, State Grid High Tech has successfully deployed and operated 21 Tianqi Low Earth Orbit IoT satellites. With the continuous launch of subsequent satellites from Tianqi, the Tianqi constellation will be able to achieve 24-hour continuous coverage by June 2024. This mission has verified the safety technology and wide platform adaptability of the Ceres Star 1 carrier rocket for thermal launch at sea, which can provide more comprehensive and convenient launch services for subsequent commercial satellite users. The relevant person in charge said that in the future, the number of Ceres Star 1 carrier rocket launches at sea will gradually increase, keeping pace with the frequency of land launches, further promoting the continuous improvement of high-density launch capabilities. (New News Agency)