In a surprising move on Monday evening, SpaceX called off the launch of two SES O3b mPOWER communications satellites just 11 seconds before liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The launch, originally scheduled for 5:27 p.m. EDT (2127 GMT) on July 21, was meant to send the satellites into medium-Earth orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.
Despite a generous 90-minute launch window, SpaceX quickly announced it would stand down for the day. In a post on X, the company stated:
“Standing down from today’s launch of the @SES_Satellites O3b mPOWER mission and now targeting tomorrow, July 22, for liftoff. Vehicle and payload remain healthy.”
As of now, SpaceX has not publicly confirmed the cause of the last-minute abort.
The next opportunity for launch opens at 5:12 p.m. EDT (2112 GMT) on Tuesday, July 22. SpaceX will provide a livestream of the launch on both its official website and X account, beginning roughly 15 minutes prior to liftoff.
About SES’s O3b mPOWER Constellation
Luxembourg-based SES is building out its O3b mPOWER constellation, a network of advanced internet satellites operating in medium-Earth orbit. The system is already partially operational and aims to deliver high-performance connectivity to underserved regions globally.
So far, eight O3b mPOWER satellites have been launched—all by SpaceX—with a total of 13 spacecraft planned for the complete constellation.
