SpaceX Launches 2 Internet Satellites, Lands Rocket at Sea
SpaceX launched two powerful communications satellites on July 22, marking another milestone in its busy 2025 launch schedule. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 5:12 p.m. EDT, sending SES’ O3b mPOWER 9 and 10 satellites into medium Earth orbit (MEO), approximately 5,000 miles above Earth.
Although the mission was initially scheduled for July 21, SpaceX aborted the first attempt just 11 seconds before liftoff. While the company did not immediately clarify the cause, the delay did not affect the final outcome. Fortunately, the launch proceeded smoothly the following day.
Just over eight minutes after liftoff, the rocket’s first stage landed on the droneship Just Read the Instructions, stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. This marked the sixth flight and landing for booster B1090. Previous missions for this booster include Crew-10, Bandwagon-3, two Starlink missions, and an earlier mPOWER satellite launch.
Expanding the mPOWER Internet Constellation
The Falcon 9’s upper stage is expected to deploy the satellites in MEO across a seven-minute window, approximately two hours after launch. If all continues as planned, this deployment will grow the operational mPOWER network, which already serves customers around the world.
Operated by Luxembourg-based SES, the mPOWER constellation currently includes eight satellites launched between December 2022 and December 2024. Each one, built by Boeing, weighs about 3,750 pounds. Importantly, the company plans to increase the total to 13 satellites in the near future.
“The remaining three O3b mPOWER satellites are currently being manufactured and are scheduled for launch over the next 12 months,” SES representatives noted earlier this month.
A Busy Year for SpaceX
Today’s mission marks SpaceX’s 89th Falcon launch of 2025. Additionally, the company has conducted three test flights of its larger Starship rocket, occurring in January, March, and May.
As the mPOWER constellation continues to grow, SpaceX remains a critical partner for global internet expansion. With consistent launch success and reusable rocket technology, the company maintains its pace in redefining modern spaceflight.
