Ceres-1 / Ceres-1S

Overview

Four-stage small-lift launch vehicle with three solid-propellant stages and a hydrazine upper stage. The sea-launched Ceres-1S variant flies from a platform in the Yellow Sea.

Operational since 2020 and China's most-flown private rocket, with 23 launches and 21 successes from land and sea. It suffered its second failure (Y19) in November 2025, traced to an overheated upper-stage engine control cable; the vehicle returned to flight successfully on January 15, 2026 with the Ceres-1S Y7 mission. No further Ceres-1 or Ceres-1S flights are listed through September 10, 2026.

Key Specs

Payload to LEO

400 kg (200 km)

Payload to SSO

300 kg (500 km)

Height

~19-20 m

Propellant

Solid (stages 1-3) + hydrazine (stage 4)

Launch Record

23 launches, 21 successes; last flight January 15, 2026

First Flight

Nov 7, 2020 (success)