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Astranis upgrades SpaceX launch contract to dedicated Falcon 9 mission

Astranis has upgraded a SpaceX contract to launch six MicroGEO satellites on a dedicated Falcon 9 mission planned for 2028.

FTMQ Space, written by our newsroom0 views

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Picture: NASASpaceFlight

Satellite manufacturer Astranis has upgraded its launch contract with SpaceX to a dedicated Falcon 9 mission scheduled for 2028. SpaceNews and Satellite Today both reported that the uncrewed mission will carry six MicroGEO satellites, which represent the entire Block 4 production run for Astranis. [3][4][5]

According to Satellite Today, the satellites will be injected directly into geostationary orbit using an Impulse Space Helios upper stage. Satellite Today added that Astranis upgraded an agreement that it had previously signed with SpaceX in late 2024 to secure all payload capacity on the rocket. [3][4]

Rockets in the Falcon 9 family have flown 712 times, recording 709 full mission successes, two launch failures, one pre-launch failure, and one partial failure, as of October 23, 2026. Separately, NASASpaceFlight reported that four rockets, including Falcon 9 and GSLV vehicles, are scheduled to launch this week from the United States and India. [1][8]

The dedicated mission allows Astranis to launch all six of its Block 4 satellites together on a single dedicated rocket, as SpaceNews and Satellite Today reported. Further operational details regarding the 2028 launch date were not disclosed. [3][4][5]

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In short

  • Astranis upgraded a SpaceX contract for a dedicated Falcon 9 launch in 2028.
  • The mission will carry six MicroGEO satellites from the Block 4 production run directly into geostationary orbit.
  • An Impulse Space Helios upper stage will be used for direct injection into geostationary orbit.
  • As of October 23, 2026, Falcon 9 family rockets have completed 709 successful missions out of 712 launches.

Sources

Every paragraph above points to the numbered items it rests on. Read the originals here.

  1. [1]Launch Preview: Falcon 9 and GSLV rockets scheduled to launchNASASpaceFlight, 4h ago (the report this story comes from)
  2. [2]Canada Satellite Launch Crunch as Falcon 9 Fades [2026]https://tech-insider.org/, 14h ago
  3. [3]Astranis Plans Dedicated Falcon 9 to Launch 6 MicroGEO SatellitesSatellite Today, 5h ago
  4. [4]Astranis Plans Dedicated Falcon 9 to Launch 6 MicroGEO SatellitesVia Satellite, 5h ago
  5. [5]Astranis Upgrades Falcon 9 Launch Contract to Dedicated Mission for Entire Block 4 Production Run of SatellitesSpaceNews, 12h ago
  6. [6]SpaceX Launches Falcon 9 Starlink 10-39 - Second Attempt Alex Jimenez (I7yPYft1sR)Unisba Media, 1d ago

Background

  1. [7]Football Manager 27 on Wikipedia
  2. [8]List of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches on Wikipedia
  3. [9]List of GSLV launches on Wikipedia
  4. [10]Falcon on Grokipedia

Our newsroom writes these reports with the help of software, from the 10 sources listed and nothing else, and checks them against those sources. Facts can still be wrong or move on; the originals are the record. Spotted a mistake? Write to daniel@monsterkong.com.

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