SpaceX has successfully launched the SXM-9 satellite for SiriusXM radio, marking the company’s 180th successful rocket landing. The satellite was launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on a Falcon 9 rocket and is now in geosynchronous transfer orbit.
The SXM-9 satellite adds robustness to SiriusXM’s satellite fleet, replacing two aging satellites that have been in service since 2005. It measures 27 feet tall and stretches to 100 feet long with its solar panel arrays unfolded.
This launch marks the third time SpaceX has launched a SiriusXM satellite using a Falcon 9 rocket, following SXM-7 and SXM-8. The previous SXM-7 was declared lost in orbit shortly after launching in 2020.
Falcon 9’s first stage booster successfully landed on SpaceX’s drone ship approximately 8.5 minutes after liftoff, marking another milestone for the company’s reusable rocket technology.
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-falcon-9-rocket-to-launch-sirius-xm-radio-satellite-this-morning