A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket topped with the 15,400-pound (7,000 kilograms) SXM-11 spacecraft lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on June 28, 2026 at 10:25 p.m. EDT (0225 GMT on June 29).
On Sunday night, June 28, 2026, SpaceX successfully launched the heavy 15,400-pound (7,000-kilogram) SXM-11 satellite into orbit for SiriusXM and nailed the first-stage booster landing. [1, 2]
The mission lifted off at 10:25 p.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Watch the official footage of the Falcon 9 rocket lifting off from Florida, sticking its ocean landing, and deploying the massive satellite into space:
Mission Highlights
- Perfect Landing: The Falcon 9 first-stage booster (B1085) completed its 17th successful flight. It landed upright on the drone ship "A Shortfall of Gravitas" in the Atlantic Ocean roughly 8.5 minutes after liftoff. [1, 2]
- Successful Deployment: The upper stage delivered the SXM-11 satellite to its intended geosynchronous transfer orbit, deploying it exactly 34.5 minutes after launch. [1, 2]
- The Satellite: Built by Maxar Space Systems (Lanteris), SXM-11 is SiriusXM's most powerful satellite to date. It features massive solar arrays stretching 106 feet long and a 10-meter unfurlable antenna reflector. [1, 2, 3, 4]
- Fleet Refresh: The new spacecraft will use its onboard propulsion to reach geostationary orbit. It will replace the aging XM-5 satellite (launched in 2010) and is designed to provide digital audio radio services across the U.S., Canada, Alaska, and the Caribbean into the 2040s. [1, 2]
This flight marked SpaceX's 76th mission of 2026. [1]
Deep Dive & Technical Insights
For a closer look at the technical specifications of the spacecraft and live orbital tracking, you can check out the full mission profile on Next Spaceflight or read the comprehensive live launch log directly on Spaceflight Now. [1, 2]
