SES completed its second-generation medium Earth orbit constellation on September 13, 2026, when a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth O3b mPOWER satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The final trio of spacecraft will enter operational service by mid-2027.
SpaceX launched the final three O3b mPOWER satellites aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Liftoff occurred at 2:49 p.m. local time on Sunday, September 13, 2026, during an 87-minute launch window that opened at that exact hour, according to live reporting from Spaceflight Now.
The mission brought the O3b mPOWER satellite constellation in medium Earth orbit up to a total of 13 spacecraft. Each Boeing-built satellite possesses a dry mass of 1,900 kilograms, as noted in mission specifications.
Completing the MEO Constellation and Expanding Capacity
The successful launch marks a major milestone for Luxembourg-headquartered SES as it finalizes its second-generation medium Earth orbit system.
“This launch marks a defining milestone for SES as we complete the O3b mPOWER constellation and further strengthen our MEO capabilities.”
Adel Al-Saleh, CEO of SES
Once the newly deployed satellites complete their orbit-raising maneuvers and thorough checkouts, they are scheduled to enter service by mid-2027. They will join 10 operating spacecraft already in orbit, providing connectivity services that range from tens of megabits per second to multiple gigabits per second to any location on the globe.
Addressing Past Manufacturing Hurdles With Design Adjustments
The path to completing the 13-satellite constellation required engineering adjustments following complications encountered earlier in the program. Prior to the launches of the fifth and sixth satellites, technicians discovered an electrical issue that impacted both broadband capacity and the estimated operational life of those units, according to industry reporting.
To compensate for the setback, modifications were implemented on satellites 7 through 11.
Falcon 9 Booster Achievement and Launch Complex Milestone
SpaceX executed Sunday’s flight using a seasoned Falcon 9 first-stage booster carrying the tail number B1080. The mission marked the 29th flight for this particular booster, which previously supported four International Space Station cargo runs, the European Space Agency’s Euclid observatory, SES’s Astra 1P mission, and 22 batches of Starlink satellites, as detailed by Spaceflight Now.
The liftoff also represented a historic marker for the launch facility. It was the 400th orbital launch from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, with SpaceX responsible for 345 of those flights.
More than 8.5 minutes after liftoff, booster B1080 successfully touched down on SpaceX’s autonomous droneship, A Shortfall of Gravitas
, stationed in the Atlantic Ocean, according to live updates from Florida Today. Brevard County Emergency Management officials subsequently deactivated their launch operations support team following the successful flight.
Weather Challenges and Launch Window Precision
Preparations for Sunday’s flight proceeded despite looming meteorological concerns across Central Florida. Ahead of the window, National Weather Service officials tracked a line of showers and storms moving eastward from the Gulf Coast packing wind gusts up to 40 mph.
The 45th Weather Squadron initially forecast a 60 percent chance of favorable weather at the opening of the launch window, with conditions expected to deteriorate to 40 percent favorability by the end, as meteorologists outlined in their pre-launch outlook. However, favorable conditions improved just prior to ignition, with SpaceX’s webcast putting the odds at 75 percent, according to Florida Today.
