SpaceX successfully launched a new satellite for SiriusXM’s radio broadcast fleet, carrying it into geostationary transfer orbit on Thursday morning. The SXM-9 satellite blasted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at 11:10 a.m. EST using a Falcon 9 rocket. This marks the third SiriusXM satellite launched since the failure of its predecessor, SXM-7 in December 2020.
The rocket’s first stage booster, tail number B1076, successfully landed on the SpaceX droneship “Just Read the Instructions” about 8 minutes after liftoff, marking its 19th launch and 101st landing. The satellite is built by Maxar Technologies, which has been manufacturing satellites for SiriusXM since 2000.
The SXM-9 satellite features a 9-meter diameter unfurlable reflector antenna manufactured by L3Harris Technologies. This technology will also be used on the forthcoming SXM-10 satellite. Maxar’s 1300 series bus platform is being relied upon once again, with Maxar Senior Vice President Robert Curbeam stating that it has served as a reliable spacecraft platform for decades.
The launch comes after nearly two years since SiriusXM launched its predecessor, SXM-8 in June 2021, which completed on-orbit testing a month later.
Source: https://spaceflightnow.com/2024/12/05/live-coverage-spacex-to-launch-latest-broadcast-satellite-for-siriusxm-on-falcon-9-rocket-from-the-kennedy-space-center