Pallas-1

Pallas-1
FunctionLaunch Vehicle
ManufacturerGalactic Energy
Country of originChina
Size
Height42 m (138 ft)
Diameter3.35 m (11.0 ft)
Mass220,000 kg (490,000 lb)
Stages3
Capacity
Payload to 400 km (250 mi) LEO
Mass5,000 kg (11,000 lb)[1]
Payload to 700 km (430 mi) SSO
Mass3,000 kg (6,600 lb)
Associated rockets
ComparableGSLV, Long March 4A, Nuri, ZQ-2
Launch history
StatusIn development
Total launches0
First stage
Diameter3.35 m (11.0 ft)
Powered by7 Welkin
Maximum thrust3,500 kN (790,000 lbf)
Burn time151s
PropellantRP-1/LOX
Second stage
Diameter3.35 m (11.0 ft)
Powered by1 Welkin Vac
Maximum thrust600 kN (130,000 lbf)
Burn time186s
PropellantRP-1/LOX
Third stage
Diameter3.35 m (11.0 ft)

The Pallas-1 (Chinese: 智神星一号) is a medium-lift orbital launch vehicle under development by Galactic Energy.[2] It features seven Welkin engines burning RP-1 and liquid oxygen (kerolox) in its first stage.[3] The first stage will have legs and grid fins to allow for stage recovery by vertical landing (much like the SpaceX Falcon 9).[2]

Pallas-1 is planned to be capable of placing a 5-tonne payload into low Earth orbit (LEO), or a 3-tonne payload into a 700-kilometer Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO).[4] The first launch of the rocket is scheduled to take place in November 2024,[5] while an initial attempt at first stage recovery using landing legs is slated for 2025.[6]

Using three Pallas-1 booster cores as its first stage, Pallas-1B (Chinese: 智神星一号乙) will be capable of putting a 17.5-tonne payload into low Earth orbit.[3]

  1. ^ Jones, Andrew (22 July 2023). "Galactic Energy registers sixth consecutive successful launch". SpaceNews. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b Jones, Andrew (20 March 2020). "Galactic Energy Prepares Ceres-1 Rocket for First Launch". IEEE Spectrum. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  3. ^ a b "智神星一号液体运载火箭圆满完成控制系统半实物仿真试验". 23 February 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  4. ^ Jones, Andrew (7 December 2021). "Chinese private firm Galactic Energy puts five satellites in orbit with second launch". SpaceNews. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  5. ^ China 'N Asia Spaceflight [@CNSpaceflight] (25 January 2024). "GALACTIC-ENERGY's CEO says Pallas-1 will be ready to launch this November" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  6. ^ Jones, Andrew (20 December 2023). "Chinese launch startup Galactic Energy raises $154 million for Pallas-1 reusable rocket launch". SpaceNews. Retrieved 20 December 2023.