星河动力空间科技有限公司 Galactic Energy- Galaxy Power (Beijing) Space Technology Co., Ltd.Located in Block D, Aviation Technology Plaza, E-Town, and Beijing – Beijing – China – People’s Republic of China ….Galaxy Aerospace is the first private aerospace company in China to achieve successful continuous launches, the first to send commercial networked satellites into a 500km sun-synchronous orbit, and the first to master the ability to launch multiple satellites with one carrier rocket
[Commercial Space# Series of Ground Tests Successful! The Countdown to the First Flight of the Ceres-2 Launch Vehicle Enters!]
Galaxy Aerospace recently completed several key ground tests for the Ceres-2 launch vehicle, including electrical system integration tests, control system hardware-in-the-loop simulation tests, full-system hot tests of the orbital attitude control power system, first-stage engine and second-stage engine joint tests, fairing static tests, fairing separation tests, and launch vehicle and rocket joint rehearsal tests.
Ceres-2 is an upgraded version of Ceres-1, developed with emphasis on development. The rocket utilizes a three-stage solid-fuel tandem design with a liquid upper stage. With a takeoff mass of 100 tons, a 500km LEO payload capacity of 1.6 tons and a 500km SSO payload capacity of 1.3 tons, and a payload efficiency of 1.3%, Ceres-2 reaches internationally leading standards. Ceres-2 can be launched from a variety of land and sea platforms. While maintaining flexibility and rapidity, it significantly reduces launch costs through technological innovation and system optimization, bringing the launch price to comparable levels with 200-ton medium-sized liquid rockets. The Ceres-2 rocket’s orbital attitude control propulsion system hot test validated the correctness of the system’s design, assessing the coordinated operation of various components, the pulsed operating characteristics of the attitude control engine, and its long-range and multiple-start performance. The orbital attitude control propulsion system, independently developed by Galaxy Aerospace, boasts advantages such as high mass ratio, high specific impulse, rapid pulse response, stable and reliable long-range operation, and multiple-ignition capability for orbital control.
The combined first-stage and second-stage engine tests captured complete performance parameters for both stages, verified the interoperability of the servomechanism and engine, and verified the separation sequence and reliability of the first and second stages, mitigating risks for subsequent missions. Furthermore, the test test fully verified the correctness of the unlocking design of the non-pyrotechnic separation lock release mechanism used for sea launches, providing strong support for the vehicle’s lightweight sea launch technology.
Ceres-2 First-Stage Engine Joint Test
The fairing static test and fairing separation test respectively assessed the load-bearing capacity of Galaxy Power’s independently designed 2.9-meter-diameter fairing, verified the correctness of the fairing separation sequence design, and obtained dynamic characteristic parameters during the fairing separation process.
Ceres-2 Fairing Separation Test
The electrical system comprehensive matching test verified the compatibility and correctness of key aspects such as the interfaces between various electrical system components, the test launch process, and the software communication protocol. During the test, the entire system demonstrated good electromagnetic compatibility, and the performance of core equipment such as the independently developed onboard computer and second-stage integrated controller met the standards. A simultaneous full-system ignition test assessed the compatibility of the pyrotechnic device interfaces and accurately verified the correctness and reliability of the pyrotechnic device operating sequences, including engine ignition, separation ignition, thermal battery activation, and safety self-destruct device ignition, providing solid technical support for subsequent missions.
The control system’s semi-physical simulation test verified the performance of key components, including the servomechanism, inertial control unit, and onboard computer. It also verified the coordination of these components within the control system loop and the correctness of the control system design and flight control software. The control system demonstrated excellent stability in complex environments and under various flight conditions, significantly improving its reliability.
The launch vehicle and rocket joint rehearsal test simulated a real launch site, including docking the rocket with the erection arm, rocket transfer, erection and recovery, and self-generated power generation. During the test, the transfer launch vehicle met all required indicators, exhibited stable performance, and adhered to standardized operating procedures, confirming its readiness for subsequent testing.
The launch vehicle and rocket joint rehearsal test
The large-scale ground test of Ceres-2 is progressing steadily, fully verifying the correctness and reliability of the launch vehicle’s overall and subsystem designs, marking the near completion of the ground development and verification work for the Ceres-2 launch vehicle.
Images and visuals are from their respectives also Galactic Energy is located in Block D, Aviation Technology Plaza, E-Town, Beijing- China – People’s Republic of China
