SES lofts two more O3b satellites

Satellite operator SES has successfully lofted two additional O3b mPOWER satellites on board a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

This second pair of O3b mPOWER satellites will join the first two satellites launched in December 2022, which have arrived at their target medium earth orbit (MEO) and are currently undergoing in-orbit check out.

The O3b mPOWER system is designed to offer high-performance data services.

Comprising an initial constellation of 11 high-throughput satellites built by Boeing, the O3b mPOWER ecosystem requires just six MEO satellites to provide connectivity around the globe.

SES is working with ground system partners virtualise and standardise a variety of platforms on the O3b mPOWER network to serve mobility, telecom, government, and enterprise customers.

O3b mPOWER commercial service is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2023. Key customers who have signed up for the next-gen system include Microsoft, Princess Cruises, Marlink, Jio Platforms, Orange, Claro Brasil, Vodafone Cook Islands, the Government of Luxembourg, subject to parliamentary approval and CNT Ecuador.

“Today we are closer to delivering our promise of a new era of connectivity. Our team has been working with more than 30 technology partners to prepare the O3b mPOWER space and ground segments to offer the differentiated and high-perfomance services that our customers need to run their operations. We have already rolled out and tested O3b mPOWER terminals over the existing O3b constellation, and are delighted to hear positive customer feedback about their increased reliability and performance, as well as the ease of self-installation, activation, and maintenance,” said Steve Collar, CEO of SES.

“It’s been an incredible journey with an exceptional and dedicated team at the Boeing satellite factory, and an invaluable partnership with SES. As we near completion on the remaining satellites, we’re excited to showcase on-orbit how our fully flexible 702X payload architecture allows operators to adapt to changing business needs and reallocate resources instantly,” said Michelle Parker, vice president of Space Mission Systems at Boeing Defense, Space & Security.