Aviation News – July 23, 2025 – Boeing engineers have confirmed the successful deployment of the ninth and tenth O3b mPOWER satellites, built for SES, a leading global satellite operator. The two satellites launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 5:12 p.m. EDT and are now transmitting signals from space.
Roughly two hours after liftoff, the satellites separated from the launch vehicle and initiated health check procedures managed by Boeing’s team in El Segundo, California—home to the world’s largest satellite manufacturing facility and Boeing’s mission control center.
Equipped with energy-efficient xenon ion thrusters, the satellites will now begin a 130-day orbital journey to Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), approximately 8,000 kilometers above Earth. Once there, they will join eight existing O3b mPOWER satellites already delivering high-performance connectivity to SES customers across the globe.
“O3b mPOWER was engineered so that each satellite added after the initial six enhances capacity, performance, and network resilience,” said Michelle Parker, Vice President of Boeing Space Mission Systems. “This advancement is the result of years of investment in cutting-edge technology and refined manufacturing processes.”
The O3b mPOWER constellation officially entered commercial service in April 2024. Operating from MEO, it delivers high-throughput, low-latency broadband services with global reach, currently covering nearly 95% of the world’s population. The constellation provides connectivity comparable to terrestrial internet infrastructure, with the added benefit of mobility and scalability.
“This launch represents another milestone in strengthening our MEO capabilities,” said Adel Al-Saleh, CEO of SES. “Our O3b mPOWER services have been game-changers for customers in telecom, maritime, aviation, and defense sectors, including NATO, the U.S. and Luxembourg governments, and other allied nations. We’re proud to keep delivering connectivity where it matters most.”
The satellites feature software-defined, digitally steered beams that allow dynamic adjustment of coverage areas and data capacity. Boeing has adapted this advanced technology for defense applications as well, including the U.S. Space Force’s WGS-11, WGS-12, and the Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS) systems designed for nuclear command and control. The hardened technology ensures resilient, secure, and jam-resistant communications in contested environments.
Boeing, a leading aerospace innovator and major U.S. exporter, continues to develop, produce, and maintain space systems, defense products, and commercial aircraft for clients in over 150 countries, guided by its core values of safety, quality, and integrity.
