The brief

Analyst view

• Galactic Energy became China's second private company to reach orbit in November 2020 with Ceres-1.
• Pallas-1 debuted on September 1, 2026, delivering 5–7 tonnes to low Earth orbit with a reusable first stage.
• The company raised $200 million in January 2022 for reusable launch development.

Technical approach

As reported

Ceres-1

Proven four-stage small-lift rocket

At 19 m tall, Ceres-1 carries 400 kg to low Earth orbit using a mixture of solid and liquid stages, serving as the company's established workhorse.

Pallas-1

Reusable medium-lift kerosene rocket

At 42 m tall, Pallas-1 uses seven Welkin engines. First stage has landing legs and grid fins for recovery, like Falcon 9.

Reusability Strategy

First-stage recovery and reuse

The goal is to reduce launch costs by recovering and refurbishing the first stage after each flight, lowering the per-kilogram cost to orbit.