🌅 Early this morning at 4:10 a.m., China’s CERES-1 rocket (Y7 mission) lit up the skies off Shandong Province, blasting four micro-satellites into low-Earth orbit (LEO) for the new Tianqi IoT constellation.
🛰️ CERES-1, built by Beijing-based Galactic Energy, is a small, solid-propellant launcher designed to carry micro-satellites just a few hundred kilometers above Earth. This was its 23rd flight—proof that commercial space ventures are rapidly finding their groove.
🌐 The Tianqi constellation is mainland China’s first LEO Internet of Things (IoT) network, offering global coverage with miniaturized, low-power, and cost-efficient data links. Imagine sensors on rice paddies in Vietnam or flood monitors in Bangladesh sending real-time updates—IoT is getting a serious space boost!
🚀 From forestry and agriculture to emergency response, tourism, and smart cities, these satellites will power consumer-grade data services across land, air, sea, and even remote digital-economy hubs. Whether you’re tracking wildlife or optimizing energy grids, Tianqi aims to make it seamless.
📡 This offshore mission was overseen by the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, marking another milestone in the race to connect everything, everywhere. Keep an eye on the skies—space-powered IoT is officially here to stay! ✨
Reference(s):
Chinese commercial rocket launches satellites for IoT constellation
cgtn.com
