🚀 This Friday morning (Jan 16, 2026), the Chinese mainland lifted off its CERES-1 Y7 rocket from the waters off Shandong Province, delivering four satellites into a preset low-Earth orbit for the Tianqi constellation.
Developed by Beijing-based Galactic Energy, CERES-1 is a solid-propellant rocket tailored for micro-satellites. This mission marks its 23rd flight, underlining fast-growing commercial space capabilities in the region.
🛰️ The Tianqi constellation is the first LEO Internet of Things data communication network from the Chinese mainland, offering global coverage, miniaturized hardware, low power consumption and cost efficiency. Users around the world can access consumer-grade satellite IoT data services across land, sea, air and space.
Applications span forestry, agriculture, emergency response, tourism, water conservancy, power grids, oil exploration, marine monitoring, environmental protection, smart cities and the digital economy. From tracking shipments at sea to monitoring crop health in remote areas, these tiny satellites promise big impacts.
As commercial space ventures accelerate, missions like CERES-1 Y7 highlight the Chinese mainland's push for innovation in the New Space era. For professionals, entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts, the rise of IoT constellations opens fresh opportunities in global markets—and it all started with today’s early morning blastoff! 🌐
Reference(s):
Chinese commercial rocket launches satellites for IoT constellation
cgtn.com
