SpaceX Completes SES O3b mPOWER Constellation with Final Launch

Key points

• Liftoff occurred at 2:49 p.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
• The mission carried three Boeing-built O3b mPOWER satellites (F11, F12, F13) to medium Earth orbit.
• Booster B1080 successfully landed on the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas, marking its 29th flight.
• This launch was the 56th orbital launch from Florida’s Space Coast in 2026.
• The mission was the 400th orbital launch from SLC-40, with SpaceX responsible for 345 of them.

Background

The O3b mPOWER constellation began operations in December 2022 with the launch of the first two satellites. Subsequent launches occurred in pairs through July 2025. An electrical issue discovered in the fifth and sixth satellites led to modifications for satellites 7-11 and the addition of two extra spacecraft to the constellation. This final launch completes the 13-satellite system, which SES states will meet growing commercial and government demand in medium Earth orbit.

How outlets are covering it

Florida Today and WESH focused on the live launch sequence, weather conditions, and the successful booster landing. Spaceflight Now provided detailed technical context, including the booster’s flight history, the 400th launch milestone for SLC-40, and the satellites’ expected service entry by mid-2027. PCMag offered a broader perspective on launch viewing logistics and the frequency of launches from Florida’s Space Coast, noting that SpaceX has shifted many Starlink launches to Vandenberg but continues frequent operations from Cape Canaveral.

Why it matters

The completion of the O3b mPOWER constellation solidifies SES’s position in medium Earth orbit broadband services. The successful reuse of booster B1080 and the 400th launch from SLC-40 highlight SpaceX’s operational reliability and the pad’s significance in the commercial space industry. The mission also demonstrates the continued importance of Cape Canaveral as a primary launch site despite shifts in some launch programs to other locations.

What to watch

The three satellites are expected to complete orbit-raising maneuvers and commissioning, entering service by mid-2027. SpaceX will continue its launch cadence from Cape Canaveral, with the next major launch scheduled for October 13, 2026, carrying NASA’s Europa Clipper probe on a Falcon Heavy rocket.