 Desktop model of an O3b mPOWER satellite | |
| Mission type | Communications |
|---|---|
| Operator | SES |
| Mission duration | 12 years (planned) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | All-electric propulsion |
| Bus | BSS-702X |
| Manufacturer | Boeing |
| Launch mass | 1700 kg |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 16 December 2022[1] |
| Rocket | Falcon 9 Block 5 |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral, SLC-40 |
| Contractor | SpaceX |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Medium Earth orbit |
| Altitude | 8,000 km (5,000 mi) |
O3b mPOWER is a communications satellite system owned and operated by SES. The system uses high-throughput and low-latency satellites in a medium Earth orbit (MEO), along with ground infrastructure and intelligent software, to provide multiple terabits of global broadband connectivity for applications including cellular backhaul and international IP trunking, cruise line connectivity, disaster recovery, and military communications. The first O3b mPOWER satellites were launched in December 2022 and the system became operational in April 2024 with 6 satellites. The system's capacity will be increased by a further 7 satellites launched by 2026.[2][3][4][5]
The O3b mPOWER satellites use fully shapable and steerable spot beams that can be shifted and scaled in real time to suit individual users. The satellites join SES' existing constellation of 20 first-generation O3b satellites in MEO and they can be used in conjunction with them, with the SES's fleet of geostationary satellites, and with SpaceX's Starlink low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation, providing full multi-orbit capability.[6][7][8][9]
- ^ SpaceX launches first pair of O3b mPower satellites SpaceNews. 16 December 2022. Accessed 17 December 2022
- ^ SES building a 10-terabit O3b mPower constellation, SpaceNews, 11 September 2017, Accessed 25 April 2024
- ^ SES’ O3b mPOWER MEO System is Now Operational, Service Rollout to Follow Via Satellite. 24 April 2024. Accessed 25 April 2024
- ^ "Boeing to Build Four Additional 702X Satellites for SES's O3b mPOWER Fleet" (Press release). Boeing. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
- ^ SES orders four more O3b mPower satellites from Boeing, SpaceNews, 7 August 2020, Accessed 25 April 2024
- ^ O3b mPower 1, ..., 11 (O3b 21, ..., 31) Gunter's Space Page, Accessed 25 April 2024.
- ^ SES: building the multi-orbit network of the future Orange. Accessed 25 April 2024
- ^ "SES to Enhance and Expand O3b mPOWER System Capabilities with Dynamic Software Innovation" (Press release). SES. 5 September 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
- ^ SES and Starlink have established an unusual partnership but it could be the first of many of its kind AnalysysMason. 30 November 2023. Accessed 29 September 2024