Demo Flight

Name: Ceres-2 · Demo Flight
Start: 2026-01-17T04:08:00Z
Location: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China

Ceres-2, flown by Galactic Energy

Ceres-2 lifting off with the Demo Flight mission — Image via The Space Devs.

This was Galactic Energy's 2nd launch of 2026, and its 24th in all.

Counting every operator, it was the 13th orbital launch attempt anywhere in 2026, and the first from Launch Area 95A.

Launched: Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, 4:08 a.m. UTC
Window: Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, 3:57 to 4:20 a.m. UTC
Launch site: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China
Rocket: Ceres-2
Operator: Galactic Energy
Failure: 1st stage failure, failed to reach orbit.

The mission

First test launch of Galactic Energy’s Ceres-2 rocket.

Type: Test flight

The rocket

Built by: Galactic Energy
First flew: January 17, 2026
Lifts to low Earth orbit: 2,000 kg
Diameter: 3.4 m

View 2 specifications Show less

Mass at liftoff: 98 t
Stages: 4

One flight so far, which failed.

Wikipedia →

The operator

Galactic Energy

Galactic Energy is a private aerospace company headquartered in Beijing, China. Established by senior engineers in 2018, Galactic Energy engages in low-cost commercial space launch business.

Sector: Commercial
Based in: China
Founded: 2018

24 launches so far, 21 of them successful.

galactic-energy.cn →

The launch site

It went up from Launch Area 95A at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China.

See the pad on a map →

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