Between 1999 and 2014 satellites were regularly launched from by Sea Launch, initially a joint–venture between the US, Norway, Russia and Ukraine. Sea Launch placed satellites into orbit for EchoStar, DirecTV, XM Radio and PanAmSat amongst others. The company, however, went bankrupt in 2009.

There is now a new contender supplying ocean–based launch activity. China’s Galactic Energy conducted its third Ceres–1S solid rocket sea launch on August 29th, successfully sending six satellites into orbit.

Galactic Energy confirmed launch success within an hour of lift off. Aboard were six remote sensing satellites for commercial customers.The launch was the third to take place from the floating launch vessel, and local reports say the company is planning for Ceres–2 upgraded rockets.

Galactic Energy was formed in February 2018.

The six satellites were remote sensing craft for private clients.

Other posts by Chris Forrester:

1. India stalls again on satellite licensing
2. Bank raises AST SpaceMobile target
3. AST SpaceMobile reaches $10bn market cap
4. Battle royale for DTC over US
5. Analyst ups AST SpaceMobile guidance
6. Deutsche Bank stays negative on Eutelsat
7. India would-be sat-operators increasingly upset
8. Israel wants its own satellite constellation
9. Will Starlink beat AST for direct-to-cellular?

Categories: Blogs, Inside Satellite, Satellite

Tags: china, satellite