SpaceX Launches 59 Satellites on Transporter-15 Rideshare Mission

SpaceX has successfully launched 59 satellites during its Transporter-15 rideshare mission, marking a significant milestone in the company’s ongoing efforts to provide accessible space deployment options. The mission took place on November 22, 2023, from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, just ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States. Liftoff occurred at 10:19 a.m. PST (1:19 p.m. EST / 18:19 UTC) aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, which followed a southerly trajectory as it departed the California coastline.

This mission is the fourth small satellite rideshare flight for SpaceX in 2023, continuing its series of Transporter missions. The Falcon 9 rocket, with the tail number B1071, is a veteran booster that has flown 30 missions, including five for the National Reconnaissance Office and various rideshare flights. Approximately 8.5 minutes after liftoff, B1071 is scheduled to perform an autonomous landing on the drone ship, “Of Course I Still Love You.” If successful, this will represent the 165th landing on this vessel and the 540th booster recovery for SpaceX.

Payload and Partner Details

The main payload integrator for the Transporter-15 mission is Exolaunch, which is responsible for deploying the 59 satellites from over 30 customers across 16 countries, including the United States, Germany, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates. Exolaunch has a history of manifesting payloads for SpaceX’s rideshare program since its inception in 2020, having deployed more than 580 satellites across 39 missions to date.

Jeanne Allarie, Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer at Exolaunch, stated, “We’re proud to continue our long-standing collaboration with SpaceX on Transporter-15, integrating 59 satellites for launch. This mission marks another record in Exolaunch’s rapid global growth and unmatched deployment track record.” She also emphasized the importance of their partnership with SpaceX in providing reliable access to space.

For this mission, Exolaunch will debut its CarboNIX NEO separation system, designed to enhance deployment capabilities. This system features a new clamp ring mechanism that provides greater strength and can support heavier payloads compared to existing technologies.

Notable Satellites on Board

Among the satellites launched are multiple payloads for Planet Labs, including 36 satellites for the Flock Imaging constellation, which has been operational since 2013. Additionally, Spire has contributed 11 satellites for data and analytics purposes.

The mission also features the ION Satellite Carrier Vehicles from D-Orbit, which will deploy a series of satellites for various missions. Notably, the “Ride With Me” mission will showcase three satellites, while the “We Need More Space” mission will deploy the European Space Agency’s AIX-1+ satellite.

Other participants include Impulse Space, whose Mira spacecraft is designed to deploy CubeSats for Spanish company Fossa Systems. This mission will test advanced features, including deployable solar arrays and new propulsion systems.

Varda Space Industries is also part of this mission, flying its fifth W-series spacecraft for on-orbit manufacturing. This launch will be particularly significant as it will enable Varda to have two of its vehicles in orbit simultaneously, a development expected to accelerate advancements in space manufacturing technology.

This successful launch not only reflects SpaceX’s growing capabilities in the small satellite launch market but also highlights the increasing collaboration between private companies and government agencies to expand access to space for various applications, from earth observation to scientific research.