SpaceX launched its SES O3b mPOWER mission on Sunday (November 12), placing two communications satellites into medium-Earth orbit (MEO).
The Falcon 9 rocket carrying the satellites lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 4:08 p.m. ET (9:08 GMT).
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The Falcon 9’s first stage returned to Earth and landed vertically on the company’s drone ship about eight and a half minutes after liftoff. The ship, known as the “Gravity Deficit,” was waiting near the Atlantic Ocean. As is standard for Falcon 9 flights, the rocket’s upper stage will not be recovered.
Two hours after liftoff, the rocket’s upper stage will deploy the first of two satellites into medium-Earth orbit (MEO), about 5,000 miles (8,000 km) above Earth. Seven minutes later, Satellite 2 is deployed.
The two Boeing spacecraft on board this flight will expand the O3b constellation of communications satellites operated by Luxembourg provider SES SA. Once completed, the six-satellite constellation is expected to provide high-speed connectivity to a wide range of government and commercial industry customers starting in late 2023.
The Falcon 9 booster on board this flight has previously flown eight missions, five of which were dedicated to building Starlink, SpaceX’s mega-constellation of broadband internet satellites. Starlink currently consists of: Over 5,000 operational satellites.
The SES O3b mPOWER mission was SpaceX’s 84th launch of the year.