SpaceX successfully launches SES O3b mPOWER satellites Tuesday from Cape Canaveral

ORLANDO, Fla. - SpaceX lit up the Florida skies Tuesday evening with the successful launch of SES’s O3b mPOWER mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

When is the launch?

What we know:

The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 5:12 p.m. ET, marking the sixth flight for this particular first-stage booster. After stage separation, the booster successfully landed on the "Just Read the Instructions" droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

The mission carried the latest pair of upgraded satellites—O3b mPOWER 9 and 10—into medium Earth orbit. Built by Boeing, these high-powered satellites are part of SES’s global broadband system designed to deliver high-speed, low-latency internet to remote and mobile markets.

SES's O3b mPOWER mission | CREDIT: SpaceX

What is SES's O3b mPOWER mission?

Big picture view:

SES, a global satellite operator based in Luxembourg, began launching its O3b mPOWER constellation in late 2022, with commercial service starting in April 2024. The network supports sectors such as maritime, aviation, government, and enterprise, offering flexible Ka-band coverage with data speeds ranging from 50 megabits to 10 gigabits per second.

Tuesday’s launch was originally scheduled for Monday evening but was scrubbed due to unfavorable conditions. SES plans to continue expanding the constellation through 2026 to meet rising global demand for reliable, high-throughput connectivity.