SpaceX Falcon 9 to Launch SES O3b mPOWER Satellites

SpaceX is set to launch its Falcon 9 rocket on Monday, July 21, 2025, carrying the ninth and tenth satellites for SES’s O3b mPOWER constellation.

The launch is scheduled from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, with a two-hour window opening at 5:12 p.m. ET (2112 UTC). A backup opportunity is available on Tuesday, July 22, at the same time.

This mission will deploy two Boeing-built satellites into medium Earth orbit (MEO) at approximately 8,000 km (5,000 miles) to enhance SES’s next-generation broadband network, providing high-throughput internet services globally.

The O3b mPOWER constellation, now nearing completion, supports customers like Carnival Corporation and Orange, delivering connectivity to over 15 million end users worldwide. Recent upgrades to satellites 7-11 address earlier power module issues, ensuring improved performance.

The Falcon 9’s first stage booster, B1090, is on its sixth flight, having previously supported O3b mPOWER-E, Crew-10, Bandwagon-3, and two Starlink missions.

Post-stage separation, it will attempt a landing on the Just Read the Instructions droneship in the Atlantic Ocean, marking SpaceX’s continued push for reusable rocket technology. This launch is SpaceX’s 89th Falcon 9 mission of 2025, following a record 134 Falcon flights in 2024.

A live webcast will begin 15 minutes before liftoff, available on SpaceX’s website, X @SpaceX, and the X TV app. Weather conditions, with potential summer showers, will be monitored closely. Stay tuned for updates on this critical mission to expand global connectivity!

Sources: Spaceflight Now, Space.com, SpaceX, SES