At 19:39 on September 5, 2025, Galactic Energy successfully carried out the Ceres-1 (Y-15) launch vehicle mission at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, precisely deploying a total of three satellites—Kaiyun-1, Yuxing-3 08, and Yunyao-1 27—along with the Eros stay-in-orbit test platform into the predetermined sun-synchronous orbit. The mission, codenamed Immortal Magpie Bridge, draws from a well-known romantic motif in traditional Chinese culture, symbolizing the beautiful vision of merging space exploration with poetic imagination.
Kaiyun-1 Satellite: Focused on Earth observation and space sensing, it is tasked with data collection and transmission, providing critical support for various scientific research projects.
Yuxing-3 08 Satellite: Primarily dedicated to in-orbit verification of new variable-temperature materials. In its later phase, it will utilize its onboard 5-meter-resolution remote sensing camera to execute Earth imaging tasks.
Yunyao-1 27 Satellite: Mainly equipped with a GNSS occultation detection payload. By inverting refracted GNSS signal data, it can retrieve information on atmospheric temperature, humidity, pressure, and ionospheric electron density.
Eros Stay-in-Orbit Test Platform: Independently developed by Galactic Energy, it is China’s first commercial rocket upper stage stay-in-orbit test platform. After completing its primary mission, the platform will remain in orbit, carrying payloads such as atmospheric detection and visible light instruments, a star screen, and damping spheres to conduct long-term in-orbit experiments.
It is particularly worth mentioning that this launch of the Eros platform marks the second such mission following the successful orbital deployment of the first Eros on June 6, 2024. The two Eros platforms are set to achieve a historic co-orbital presence in space. The poetic mission codename Immortal Magpie Bridge originates from this romantic promise spanning the stars.
The Eros stay-in-orbit platform is adaptively modified based on the upper stage of the Ceres-1 launch vehicle, with system upgrades enabling long-term orbital operation capabilities. This platform can provide low-cost, convenient, and efficient in-orbit testing and verification services for various new technologies, components, and products. Through this innovation, Galactic Energy has significantly enhanced the utilization value of the rocket’s upper stage, exploring new pathways for resource reuse in the commercial space sector.
The Immortal Magpie Bridge mission marks Galactic Energy’s 20th successful launch. To date, the company has served 27 satellite customers and successfully sent 85 satellite payloads into space.
On September 26, 2025, the Engineering Discipline of Jilin University will celebrate its 70th anniversary. Seventy years of relentless effort and passed-down legacy represent not only a significant milestone in the discipline’s history but also a new starting point for continuing to write a brilliant future. To honor this historic moment, Galactic Energy specially emblazoned the Jilin University name, emblem, and 70th-anniversary logo on the launch vehicle for this mission, paying tribute to academic tradition and innovative spirit with the light of technology.
