SpaceX launched the 11th, 12th, and 13th O3b mPOWER satellites for SES aboard a Falcon 9 rocket on September 13th, marking the completion of the deployment phase for the company's second-generation medium Earth orbit communication constellation. The three spacecraft are scheduled to enter commercial service by mid-2027, following their orbital raising maneuvers and a series of comprehensive tests.
The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 2:49 PM Eastern Time on September 13th. The satellites, designated F11, F12, and F13, began their sequential deployment roughly 34 minutes after liftoff, with each spacecraft released at approximately seven-minute intervals. Each of the three satellites has a dry mass of about 1,900 kilograms and will rely on its own propulsion system to reach its designated slot in the medium Earth orbit.
The first-stage booster for this mission, tail number B1080, completed its 29th flight. The booster successfully landed on an autonomous droneship in the Atlantic Ocean approximately eight and a half minutes after launch. This mission also represented a significant milestone for the company, marking the 700th overall launch of the Falcon rocket family, comprising 687 Falcon 9 flights and 13 Falcon Heavy missions.
The new satellites will join the ten already operational spacecraft to form the complete 13-satellite O3b mPOWER constellation. This system is designed to serve enterprise, government, mobile network operator, aviation, and maritime clients, delivering communication capacity ranging from tens of megabits to multiple gigabits per second for individual service locations. The satellites feature software-defined payloads that enable real-time adjustments to bandwidth allocation, beam power, and coverage areas based on user demand.
SES plans to use the added satellites to boost capacity across its network and enhance flexibility and redundancy, particularly in remote and complex environments. However, since the new spacecraft must complete orbit raising, initial system activation, and in-orbit testing, the successful launch will not immediately translate into a full increase in sellable capacity. SES anticipates the three satellites will be operational by mid-2027.
The initial O3b mPOWER satellites were launched in December 2022, with subsequent missions following in April 2023, November 2023, December 2024, and July 2025. The first six satellites delivered less usable communication capacity and had a shorter expected operational lifespan than originally planned. Following this, SES and manufacturer Boeing revised the design for the seventh satellite onward and increased the order by two units, expanding the final constellation size to 13 spacecraft. The seventh through tenth satellites are already providing services. SES has stated that the performance of the current 10 operational satellites validates the revised architecture, although the ultimate performance of satellites 11 through 13 remains subject to confirmation via in-orbit testing.
The O3b mPOWER constellation operates in medium Earth orbit and primarily targets customers with demanding requirements for bandwidth, latency, and network stability. Its current user base spans industries such as cruise lines, commercial aviation, mobile telecommunications, and government agencies. The system also serves as an in-orbit technology foundation for Boeing's next-generation software-defined satellite platforms. Boeing is applying the related payload architecture to the U.S. Space Force's Wideband Global SATCOM and Strategic SATCOM programs.
This launch concludes the physical deployment phase of the constellation. The successful conversion of new capacity into revenue will hinge on the commissioning schedule of the three satellites, ongoing customer demand, and the progress of terrestrial network infrastructure.