TAMPA, Fla. — SpaceX successfully launched the first pair of O3b mPower satellites with fixes to address power issues that have hampered the initial six in SES’s next-generation medium Earth orbit (MEO) broadband network.

Launch and Communication

Luxembourg-based SES reported establishing contact with the satellites following their 5:26 pm Eastern launch on a Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

Operational Goals

The seventh and eighth O3b mPower satellites are expected to spend approximately 100 days using onboard propulsion to reach their operational orbits, where health checks will confirm readiness for commercial use.

Upgrading mPower

SES has announced that there were electrical issues sporadically tripping off the power modules on in-orbit O3b mPower satellites in August 2023, after SpaceX launched the first four spacecraft in the Boeing-built constellation.

Although the issue significantly reduces operational life and broadband capacity, the operator moved forward with launching the fifth and sixth O3b mPower satellites without hardware changes to ensure that commercial services could start in April.

To achieve original performance expectations, which aims to scale to multiple gigabits per second of throughput, Boeing agreed to provide two additional O3b mPower satellites beyond an initial contract for 11 satellites.

“As we increase the number of satellites in our constellation, we also exponentially increase the capacity and efficiency of our network.” - SES CEO Adel Al-Saleh

Customer Base and Future Deployments

O3b mPower customers range from businesses such as cruise liners and telecom companies to governments, including Luxembourg and the United States. SpaceX is slated to deploy the remaining five O3b mPower satellites over the next 18 months.

Strategic Initiatives

SES, which operates a fleet of geostationary spacecraft for broadband and TV broadcast services, recently signed a contract to co-lead Europe’s $11 billion IRIS² sovereign broadband constellation ambitions, overseeing the multi-orbit network’s MEO component.

Conclusion

The successful launch of the redesigned O3b mPower satellites represents a significant step forward for SES as it aims to enhance its broadband offerings and network reliability. With the deployment plan for additional satellites, SES is poised to boost capacity and establish itself as a leader in the MEO broadband sector.