SpaceX launched a historic rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, carrying over 70 payloads into space on its Falcon 9 rocket. The Transporter-13 mission was the second of three launches by SpaceX within 12 hours and marked another milestone in the company’s dedication to reshaping the small satellite industry.
The launch included a mix of new and returning customers from government and industry, with Spire launching seven of its Lemur satellites and Iceye deploying four more SAR satellites. One of these satellites was Iceye’s first “Gen4” model, featuring an antenna twice as large as its predecessor and offering double the power.
SpaceX also used the launch to send a space science mission into orbit, the Electrojet Zeeman Imaging Explorer (EZIE), which features three 6U cubesats flying in formation to map electrical currents linked to auroras in the upper atmosphere. The mission aims to help scientists understand how these currents form and evolve at unprecedented scales.
The Transporter series of rideshare missions remains in high demand among satellite developers, but concerns about cost remain a challenge for small launch companies. Some argue that SpaceX’s low prices are making it difficult for others to compete, while others believe that dedicated launches will eventually become the norm as companies build out their constellations.
Despite these challenges, SpaceX continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in the small satellite industry. The company’s rideshare missions have democratized access to space, allowing companies to launch their first satellites and begin building out their constellations.
Source: https://spacenews.com/spacex-launches-transporter-13-rideshare-mission