SpaceX successfully launched three O3b mPOWER telecommunications satellites for the Luxembourg-based company SES. The payload, with each satellite weighing approximately 1700 kg, was delivered to a medium Earth orbit at an altitude of 8000 km using a Falcon 9 rocket.
The launch took place on September 13 at 14:49 Eastern Time from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This mission marked the 700th flight for the Falcon rocket family, a series that began its operational history in March 2006 with the debut of the Falcon 1.
The first stage of the Falcon 9, identified by serial number B1080, completed its 29th flight and successfully landed on the autonomous spaceport drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas. This specific booster recovery occurred less than nine minutes after the initial liftoff.
The current year has seen SpaceX conduct 107 orbital missions, consisting of 105 Falcon 9 launches and two Falcon Heavy flights. Additionally, the company has performed two suborbital test flights of the Starship vehicle and is currently preparing for a third attempt.
