SpaceX launches 7.5-ton SiriusXM satellite as part of constellation refreshJune 28, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith
(...) A little more than 8.5 minutes after liftoff, B1085 landed on the drone ship,
‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’, stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. This was its 158th successful landing, tying it with the now retired vessel, ‘Just Read the Instructions’, which is being used for Starship operations.
Constellation refreshThe SXM-11 satellite, weighing about 15,000 pounds (7.5 tons), was deployed from the Falcon 9 rocket’s upper stage a little more than half an hour after launch.
It was manufactured by Lanteris Space Systems, a subsidiary of Texas-based Intuitive Machines. The company, formerly branded as Maxar Space Systems, was acquired by Intuitive Machines in January 2026 for about $800 million.
The SXM-11 and SXM-12 satellites were built to replace SiriusXM’s XM-5 and the Sirius FM-5 satellites, which launched in 2010 and 2009 respectively.
“After years of planning, engineering, testing, and collaboration, SXM-11 is set to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and begin its journey to orbit,” SiriusXM wrote on its LinkedIn page. “As the most powerful high-powered satellite in SiriusXM’s fleet, SXM-11 will help enhance signal reception, expand coverage in Alaska, and support the delivery of audio entertainment and information services across the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean.”
The satellite is based on the IM-1300 satellite bus. With its solar panels extended, the spacecraft spans 106 feet (32.3 m).
SiriusXM said about 60 percent of the 7.5 ton satellite’s mass comes from the fuel onboard. The last of these satellites, SXM-10, which launched in June 2025, is estimated to remain in service until 2040, according to a financial disclosure from SiriusXM to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
https://spaceflightnow.com/2026/06/28/live-coverage-spacex-to-launch-7-5-ton-siriusxm-satellite-as-part-of-constellation-refresh/Michael Seeley @MikeSeeley 7:06 PM · Jun 29, 2026 from Melbourne, FL
An Antonov AN-124 watching the Sunday night SpaceX Falcon 9 launch carrying the SXM-11 payload.
This was the view from Sheltair at KMLB, where the plane was overnighting, waiting for big payload to be loaded. The plane departed Monday morning, bound for the Pacific Northwest.
SHELTAIR and 2 others
https://twitter.com/MikeSeeley/status/2071641450190668131JohnCn @JConcilus 3:59 AM · Jul 1, 2026
Lovely twilight arrival of SpaceX droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas (ASOG) with Falcon 9 booster B1085 after 17 trips to space! Signet Warhorse I had the tow duty. Bob in at 6 PM with payload fairings. So, all the vessels supporting Sunday night’s SXM-11 launch are back.👍🚀⛴️
https://twitter.com/JConcilus/status/2072138063233548674
Wątek: Falcon-9R B1085.17 | SXM-11 | 29.06.2026 (Przeczytany 256 razy)