SpainSat NG-1 Military Satellite Launched Successfully by SpaceX Falcon 9

On Wednesday night, January 29, SpaceX launched the next-generation Spanish communications satellite, sending it into a geostationary transfer orbit.

The European Space Agency (ESA) and Hisdesat communications satellite, SpainSat Next Generation 1 (SpainSat NG-1), was launched by a Falcon 9 rocket from Pad 39A of NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at 8:34 p.m. EST (0134 GMT on January 30).

The launch, which was the final flight of Falcon 9 first stage booster B1073, is SpaceX’s thirteenth launch of 2025.

This was the 21st and last flight of the B1073 launcher, which has helped launch a resupply mission to the International Space Station (CRS-27) and a commercial Japanese lunar lander (HAKUTO M1), among other missions. The SpainSat NG-1 mission’s performance criteria prevented the stage from being recovered, according to SpaceX’s mission overview.

Hisdesat, a Spanish company, led the satellite’s development, and the European Space Agency (ESA) helped with its sophisticated communication capabilities. Among these improvements are antenna technology, which enables faster data transfer, more security, and the ability to precisely target communication beams to particular areas.

SpainSat NG represents Europe’s progress in safe satellite communication technology. This launch marks an important milestone in improving safe and flexible communication services for governmental users across Europe and beyond, explained Laurent Jaffart, Director of Connectivity and safe Communications at ESA.

31.5 minutes after liftoff, the SpainSat NG-1 satellite was deployed after being pulled to a geosynchronous transfer orbit by the upper stage of the Falcon 9. Following that, the satellite will launch itself to its ultimate location 22,236 miles (35,786 kilometres) above the planet. “With that successful deploy of Spainsat NG-1, it begins its journey to its final destination,” said John Inspruker, who had been covering the launch for SpaceX.