SpaceX O3b mPOWER 3 and 4 Launch

SpaceX plans to launch two O3b mPOWER satellites into an 8000 km 70° inclination medium Earth orbit in an 88 minute launch window opening on 2023-04-28 at 21:12 UTC. The launch will be from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The first stage booster, B1078, will be making its second flight, after a turnaround time of 57 days since its last mission. The booster will land on the Just Read the Instructions drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. Weather is not promising for this launch, with the forecast only 20% favourable. If the launch is postponed, there is a backup opportunity the next day, 2023-04-29, at the same time.

The payload is the second two satellites of the second-generation O3b constellation, providing high-bandwidth communication to 96% of the Earth’s surface. The complete constellation will consist of 11 satellites with start of service scheduled for the third quarter of 2023. “O3b” originally stood for “Other 3 Billion”, based upon its goal of providing Internet access to the three billion people who lacked it. In 2016, O3b Networks was acquired by satellite operator SES S.A. of Luxembourg and is now a wholly-owned subsidiary. SES, originally named Société Européenne des Satellites, is best known for its Astra direct-to-home television broadcast satellites with 170 million customers in Europe.

Here is the pre-flight preview from Everyday Astronaut.

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