SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched at 1849 UTC, from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40), Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Suinday (Sept. 13), carrying the Boeing-built final three satellites (O3b mPOWER 11, 12, and 13), to Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) for Luxembourg-based SES' O3b mPOWER constellation.

The Falcon 9 first-stage booster B1080, completed its 29th flight and landed on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean a little less than nine minutes after liftoff.

The rocket's upper stage, meanwhile, continued hauling the O3b mPOWER trio to MEO. The satellites were deployed as scheduled, in a staggered 14-minute window starting roughly 33.5 minutes after launch, using onboard electric propulsion to reach their operational orbits at 8,000 kilometers.

The final satellites feature re-engineered power systems and software adjustments implemented after early power module anomalies were identified in the first four satellites launched in 2022 and 2023. The O3b mPOWER satellites weigh about 1,700 kilograms apiece. SpaceX has launched all of them, on six Falcon 9 launches beginning in December 2022.

Sunday's launch added the final three spacecraft to the constellation, bringing the total to 13 satellites in MEO. The O3b mPOWER network is designed to deliver low-latency, high-throughput broadband connectivity for government, enterprise, and maritime customers. The new satellites are expected to enter full commercial service by mid-2027.

The network is "purpose-built to deliver predictable low latency, exceptional throughput and unprecedented flexibility for industries where uptime isn’t optional," according to the company. "It transforms how networks operate by pairing advanced software defined satellites with an intelligent ground and software ecosystem — ensuring guaranteed performance, even as global bandwidth demands surge," the company wrote.

Sunday's launch was SpaceX's 107th orbital mission of the year. Falcon 9 has performed 105 of those flights, with Falcon Heavy conducting the other two. This also marks the 700th mission for the Falcon rocket family.

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched at 1849 UTC, from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40), Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Suinday (Sept. 13), carrying the Boeing-built final three satellites (O3b mPOWER 11, 12, and 13), to Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) for Luxembourg-based SES' O3b mPOWER constellation.

The Falcon 9 first-stage booster B1080, completed its 29th flight and landed on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean a little less than nine minutes after liftoff.

The rocket's upper stage, meanwhile, continued hauling the O3b mPOWER trio to MEO. The satellites were deployed as scheduled, in a staggered 14-minute window starting roughly 33.5 minutes after launch, using onboard electric propulsion to reach their operational orbits at 8,000 kilometers.

The final satellites feature re-engineered power systems and software adjustments implemented after early power module anomalies were identified in the first four satellites launched in 2022 and 2023. The O3b mPOWER satellites weigh about 1,700 kilograms apiece. SpaceX has launched all of them, on six Falcon 9 launches beginning in December 2022.

Sunday's launch added the final three spacecraft to the constellation, bringing the total to 13 satellites in MEO. The O3b mPOWER network is designed to deliver low-latency, high-throughput broadband connectivity for government, enterprise, and maritime customers. The new satellites are expected to enter full commercial service by mid-2027.

The network is "purpose-built to deliver predictable low latency, exceptional throughput and unprecedented flexibility for industries where uptime isn’t optional," according to the company. "It transforms how networks operate by pairing advanced software defined satellites with an intelligent ground and software ecosystem — ensuring guaranteed performance, even as global bandwidth demands surge," the company wrote.

Sunday's launch was SpaceX's 107th orbital mission of the year. Falcon 9 has performed 105 of those flights, with Falcon Heavy conducting the other two. This also marks the 700th mission for the Falcon rocket family.

The Houthi (Ansar Allah) movement launched a "lightning offensive," seizing Yemen’s entire Red Sea coast over the weekend, including the strategic port of Mocha and Perim Island (Mayun) in the Bab al-Mandab Strait. This rapid advance collapsed Saudi-backed government forces, who were driven from six districts, and resulted in the capture of US-manufactured military vehicles and the UAE-built Mocha airport runway.

The Houthis took over Saudi-supported government coalition positions across Hays, Al-Khawkhah, Mokha, and Dhubab, claiming control of over 4,500 square miles. Their takeover of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital artery for global energy shipping, has forced the suspension of Saudi Arabia’s crucial oil pipeline following drone attacks.

During the retreat of coalition and Saudi-backed local militias, Houthis overran multiple garrisons, seizing substantial quantities of military gear—including U.S.-supplied armored vehicles, artillery, and anti-tank systems left behind by withdrawing forces.

The UN and local reporting indicate nearly 50,000 civilians have fled the rapid advance, emptying towns along the Red Sea coast as fighting escalates.

The Houthis have explicitly threatened Saudi-linked vessels, causing oil tankers to reroute via the Suez Canal or Cape of Good Hope, while claiming navigation remains safe for non-Saudi international ships.

During a visit to Dublin, US President Donald Trump said on Saturday, that the Houthis contacted Washington to request no US military intervention, claiming they "do not want to fight with us," adding that the U.S. intends to let regional partners handle ground dynamics while providing intelligence and non-kinetic targeting support to Riyadh.

However, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly called Trump twice on Thursday, to request direct US airstrikes against the Houthis.

The Trump administration declined direct military action to avoid opening a new front while fighting Iran, offering instead intelligence and targeting support to Saudi Arabia, which has launched over 50 airstrikes in response.

U.S. officials reportedly cited a directive to keep American forces focused on broader regional postures, including monitoring Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, rather than reigniting full-scale kinetic operations in Yemen.

The Houthi offensive coincides with drone and missile strikes targeting oil pipelines and logistics hubs inside southern Saudi Arabia, forcing shutdowns of key transit lines.

By holding the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Houthis hold immense leverage over global shipping and Red Sea commerce, placing pressure on both Gulf states and international trade markets. Yemen had experienced relative quiet following a 2022 truce, but skirmishes flared up few months ago, before exploding into this full-scale offensive.