{"id":8724,"date":"2026-02-11T17:09:18","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T16:09:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/?p=8724"},"modified":"2026-02-12T10:32:05","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T09:32:05","slug":"ceres-2-an-unsuccessful-maiden-flight-for-galactic-energys-new-medium-lift-launcher","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/ceres-2-an-unsuccessful-maiden-flight-for-galactic-energys-new-medium-lift-launcher\/","title":{"rendered":"CERES-2: An Unsuccessful Maiden Flight for Galactic Energy\u2019s New Medium-Lift Launcher"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"8724\" class=\"elementor elementor-8724\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3c7c3eca elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3c7c3eca\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6ae741d4\" data-id=\"6ae741d4\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-43650ab5 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"43650ab5\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;shape_divider_top&quot;:&quot;arrow&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shape elementor-shape-top\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-negative=\"false\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 700 10\" preserveAspectRatio=\"none\">\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M350,10L340,0h20L350,10z\"\/>\n<\/svg>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-263c2f5b\" data-id=\"263c2f5b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1d1d1d51 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1d1d1d51\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">\nLaunches updates\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-48de0b54\" data-id=\"48de0b54\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e14f5e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5e14f5e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default elementor-inline-editing pen\" style=\"color: #252a3a; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;\" data-elementor-setting-key=\"title\" data-pen-placeholder=\"Type Here...\">Ceres-2<\/h1><h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default elementor-inline-editing pen\" style=\"color: #252a3a; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;\" data-elementor-setting-key=\"title\" data-pen-placeholder=\"Type Here...\">An Unsuccessful Maiden Flight<\/h1>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5833d6dd elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5833d6dd\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-12e5eeef\" data-id=\"12e5eeef\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-55472a42 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"55472a42\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-66532da elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"66532da\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-40ca594\" data-id=\"40ca594\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7550114 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7550114\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/descarga-riw6ncg0k85zgcsjta6mcih3d044kvu02wazoybdbc.png\" title=\"descarga\" alt=\"descarga\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f4e35b0\" data-id=\"f4e35b0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e8d7b24 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e8d7b24\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/111111-1-riw6wem0fqkhd1mrwp65vq61hpghrusuzqoh7yvrc8.png\" title=\"111111\" alt=\"111111\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-423e58d\" data-id=\"423e58d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c266730 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c266730\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>17\/01\/2026<\/strong><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ce721c3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ce721c3\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9971202\" data-id=\"9971202\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a96a9e0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a96a9e0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>On <b>January 17, 2026, at 12:08 p.m<\/b>., the Chinese private company <b>Galactic Energy<\/b> conducted the maiden flight of its new medium-class launch vehicle, <b>CERES-2<\/b>, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.<a href=\"#notes\"><strong>1<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0This mission, which followed several months of preparation and numerous technical delays, represented a major strategic challenge for the Beijing-based firm. With a takeoff weight of approximately <b>100 tons<\/b>, CERES-2 was designed to reach a new level of capability by quadrupling the performance of its predecessor, CERES-1. This new launch vehicle is based on a complex hybrid architecture, combining three solid-propellant stages for initial thrust and a liquid-propellant upper stage for precision orbital injection. The stated objective is to place up to 1,600 kg into low orbit, offering a flexible transport solution that can be deployed from mobile platforms to meet the growing demand for small and medium-sized satellite constellations.<\/p><p><span style=\"text-align: left;\">For this test flight, the launch vehicle&#8217;s fairing stored a cluster of <\/span><b style=\"text-align: left;\">six commercial satellites\u00a0<\/b><span style=\"text-align: left;\">intended for various telecommunications and observation applications.<a href=\"#notes\"><b>2<\/b><\/a><\/span><span style=\"text-align: left;\">\u00a0Among this cargo was the <\/span><b style=\"text-align: left;\">Lilac-3 satellite<\/b><span style=\"text-align: left;\">, an innovative unit with an ultra-flat design developed jointly by the Harbin Institute of Technology and Beijing University of Aeronautics. However, despite a nominal initial takeoff, a technical anomaly during the propulsion phase led to the<\/span><b style=\"text-align: left;\"> failure of the mission and the loss of the payloads<\/b><span style=\"text-align: left;\">. This setback poses a major challenge for Galactic Energy, which has a particularly busy development schedule. The company is currently at a pivotal moment, marked by preparations for an initial public offering and the parallel design of Pallas-1, its future reusable liquid-propellant launch vehicle. This incident highlights the inherent complexity of implementing new flight architectures and ensuring the reliability of hybrid propulsion systems.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"text-align: left;\">In a context of intensified global technological competition, mastering such launchers has\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"text-align: left;\">become a priority for Beijing. While the United States is consolidating its lead thanks to a mature ecosystem combining NASA programs with SpaceX&#8217;s operational efficiency, China is seeking to structure its own private sector to reduce the load on state-owned Long March launchers. The reliability of medium-class launch vehicles such as CERES-2 is crucial to supporting <\/span><b style=\"text-align: left;\">the ambitious national goal of exceeding 100 launches in 2026<\/b><span style=\"text-align: left;\">. In response to this failure, Galactic Energy immediately launched a rigorous investigation to analyze telemetry data, identify the precise cause of the failure, and implement the necessary corrections. This phase of analysis and technical adjustment is part of the classic industrial learning cycle specific to high-performance space transportation.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-56d86e3\" data-id=\"56d86e3\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-79e0da1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"79e0da1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<table><tbody><tr><td width=\"159\"><p><strong>Time<\/strong><\/p><\/td><td width=\"194\"><p>17\/01\/2026 &#8211; 12:08 pm<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"159\"><p><strong>Launch Vehicule<\/strong><\/p><\/td><td width=\"194\"><p>CERES-2<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"159\"><p><strong>Launch site<\/strong><\/p><\/td><td width=\"194\"><p>Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center<br \/>Launch Area 95A<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"159\"><p><strong>Stages<\/strong><\/p><\/td><td width=\"194\"><p>4<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"159\"><p><strong>Diameter<\/strong><\/p><\/td><td width=\"194\"><p>3.35 m<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"159\"><p><strong>Launch mass<\/strong><\/p><\/td><td width=\"194\"><p>98 tons<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5400357 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5400357\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-487e1be\" data-id=\"487e1be\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-37a30aa elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"37a30aa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ad3214b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ad3214b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3118153\" data-id=\"3118153\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c214ae0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c214ae0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"709\" height=\"460\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/16.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-8730\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/16.png 709w, https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/16-300x195.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 709px) 100vw, 709px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3558842\" data-id=\"3558842\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-29f617a elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"29f617a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"451\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/13-1024x577.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-8727\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/13-1024x577.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/13-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/13-768x433.png 768w, https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/13.png 1047w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b459ae2\" data-id=\"b459ae2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c08013e elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c08013e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"513\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/14.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-8728\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/14.jpeg 971w, https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/14-300x192.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.nonproliferation.eu\/hcoc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/14-768x493.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ce1387b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ce1387b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b3ce4cd\" data-id=\"b3ce4cd\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-54e7904 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"54e7904\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ccebe30 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ccebe30\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-712fdca\" data-id=\"712fdca\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6762c39 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6762c39\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"#notes\"><strong>1<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0Huaxia, &#8216; Ceres-2 commercial carrier rocket fails in maiden flight&#8217;, January 17th 2026,<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">https:\/\/english.news.cn\/20260117\/599e09db11fc45e8b1437ad8e27a08bf\/c.html<\/span><\/p><p><a href=\"#notes\"><strong>2<\/strong><\/a> <span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Andrew Jones, \u2018 China hit by dual launch failures as Long March 3B and Ceres-2 debut mission fail\u2019 , January 17th 2026,https:\/\/spacenews.com\/china-hit-by-dual-launch-failures-as-long-march-3b-and-ceres-2-debut-mission-fail\/<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>China\u2019s CERES-2 program faces a major setback as its first launch fails, highlighting the technological challenges in developing medium-class launchers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":8730,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8724","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-other-publications"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>CERES-2: An Unsuccessful Maiden Flight for Galactic Energy\u2019s New Medium-Lift Launcher - HCoC<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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