Mission Overview
SpaceX carried out the 700th launch of a Falcon rocket, delivering the final three satellites of the O3b mPOWER constellation to medium Earth orbit for operator SES. The launch took place from Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Launch Window and Significance
The launch window spanned 87 minutes, opening at 2:49 p.m. EDT (18:49 UTC). With this flight SpaceX also achieved its 400th orbital mission from SLC-40, highlighting the growing use of this pad for commercial and government customers.
About the O3b mPOWER Constellation
The O3b mPOWER satellites form a high-throughput system designed to provide broadband connectivity to businesses and governments worldwide. The three newly launched units complete the planned constellation, enabling full operational service.
Outlook
SES intends to use the added capacity for services such as cloud computing, mobile backhaul and government networks. SpaceX expects to conduct additional Falcon launches throughout the year to support both its own missions and customer contracts.