A Falcon 9v1.2FT Block 5 rocket successfully launched a pair of O3B m-POWER satellites on behalf of SES. After the launch was delayed for an hour due to bad weather, the two satellites, SES O3B m-POWER-3 and SES O3B m-POWER-4, were launched from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, USA, at 2212 GMT on 28 April 2022.
Built by Boeing using its 702X bus, the 1,200 kg satellites second generation very high-throughput satellites as part of the O3b constellation. After three upper stage burns the two satellites were confirmed as having been deployed successfully into a 7000 x 2770 km transfer orbit at 8.6 degrees inclination around two hours after launch. The eventual operating orbit once the satellites have circularised themselves will be a Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) of 8,060 km.
The reusable first stage booster B1078, on its second flight, safely touched down on the SpaceX drone ship Just Read the Instructions which was be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean off the Florida coast.
Falcon 9 launches pair of O3B M-Power satellites. Courtesy: SpaceX
David Todd contributed to this report
