Boeing has confirmed the successful launch and signal acquisition of the 9th and 10th O3b mPOWER satellites for SES, following liftoff aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 5:12 p.m. EDT. The satellites separated from the launch vehicle approximately two hours post-launch and are undergoing initial health checks at Boeing’s mission control facility in El Segundo, California. Equipped with advanced xenon thrusters, the satellites will spend the next 130 days maneuvering to their designated positions in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), approximately 8,000 kilometers above Earth. They will join the existing eight O3b mPOWER satellites already delivering high-performance connectivity services globally.
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“We designed O3b mPOWER so each additional satellite beyond the first six boosts capacity, performance, and resilience,” said Michelle Parker, VP of Boeing Space Mission Systems. SES CEO Adel Al-Saleh added, “With this launch we continue adding incremental capacity to our initial O3b mPOWER constellation, strengthening our MEO network and delivering high throughput and predictable low latency services at scale.” Commercial service began in April 2024, with the constellation now supporting mission-critical connectivity for industries and government organizations worldwide, including NATO, telcos, airlines, cruise lines, and allied governments.