On September 13, 2026, SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket with three SES O3b mPOWER satellites from the spaceport at Cape Canaveral.
Liftoff took place at 14:49 Eastern Time from pad LC-40 at the U.S. Space Force base. The rocket delivered the spacecraft to medium Earth orbit.
This is the 29th flight of the first-stage booster. After separation, the stage is expected to land on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic.
Three new satellites complete SES's O3b mPOWER constellation. Ten already operational spacecraft of the Luxembourg operator will be joined by them.
Weather on the day of the launch remained variable. In the morning, the probability of favorable conditions was estimated at 60 %, rising to 75 % closer to liftoff. Ultimately, meteorologists gave the 'go for launch'.
The launch was SpaceX's 56th orbital launch from Florida's spaceports in 2026. The previous launch from Cape Canaveral took place on August 30 — when a Falcon Heavy carried a NASA telescope into orbit.
How will the completion of the constellation affect global connectivity?
Spectators could watch the mission from the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Several viewing locations were prepared there at various distances from the launch pad.
