Published: 14:40, October 21, 2026 | Updated: 15:18, October 21, 2026
China's CERES-1 rocket launches new satellite from sea
By Xinhua
The CERES-1 Y8 carrier rocket carrying a new satellite blasts off from the waters near the city of Rizhao, East China's Shandong province, Oct 21, 2026. (PHOTO/XINHUA) 

RIZHAO, Shandong — China launched a rocket from the ocean waters near the city of Rizhao in East China's Shandong province on Wednesday, placing a new satellite into designated orbit.

The CERES-1 Y8 carrier rocket blasted off at 11:39 am (Beijing Time).

The Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center carried out this offshore launch. 

This new satellite will be mainly used for commercial remote sensing, providing services to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, southern China, and the low-latitude regions along the Maritime Silk Road, according to the Science and Technology Daily.

The launch marked the seventh sea-based mission of the CERES-1 sea-launched carrier rocket series.

As of now, the rocket's developer Galactic Energy has successfully conducted 23 orbital launches and placed a total of 90 commercial satellites into their designated orbits, the report noted.