SpaceX launches final SES satellites, marks 700th Falcon mission milestone
SpaceX successfully launched three final O3b mPOWER satellites for Luxembourg-based SES on September 13 from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The mission lifted off at 2:49 p.m. EDT and delivered the satellites to medium Earth orbit, completing SES's 13-satellite broadband constellation. This marked the 700th mission across SpaceX's Falcon rocket family since 2006. The Falcon 9 booster on its 29th flight landed successfully on a droneship in the Atlantic. The constellation is designed to deliver low-latency broadband connectivity for government and commercial customers worldwide. The three Boeing-built satellites, each weighing 1,700 kilograms, are expected to become operational by mid-2027 after completing orbital procedures. Weather conditions at launch showed 60 percent favorable odds despite tropical storm activity over Florida.
Key facts
- SpaceX launched three O3b mPOWER satellites on September 13, 2026, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 2:49 p.m. EDT
- The mission completed SES's 13-satellite medium Earth orbit constellation for broadband connectivity
- This was the 700th mission across SpaceX's Falcon rocket family, split between 687 Falcon 9 and 13 Falcon Heavy launches
- The Falcon 9 booster B1080 completed its 29th flight and landed on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship
- Each Boeing-built satellite weighs 1,700 kilograms and will provide service to government, telecom, and commercial customers
- The satellites will operate in medium Earth orbit at 5,000 miles altitude, offering approximately 150 milliseconds signal latency
- Satellites are expected to enter operational service by mid-2027
Limits of this briefing
No significant partisan coverage or debate was found regarding this mission. News outlets across the political spectrum treated this as a straightforward commercial and industrial achievement without highlighted controversy or policy disagreements. Local Florida outlets focused on logistical and weather impacts.
Sources
- Spaceflight Now: SpaceX launches 700th Falcon rocket, carries final 3 O3b mPOWER satellites to orbit for SES Centre
- Space.com: SpaceX launches 3 telecom satellites to orbit on 700th Falcon mission of all time Centre
- Quartz: SpaceX 700th Falcon launch completes SES O3b mPOWER constellation Centre
- The Florida Buzz: SpaceX Completes SES Satellite Constellation from Cape Canaveral Centre
- Advanced Television: SpaceX launches 3 satellites for SES Centre