Exolaunch deployed 34 satellites during SpaceX’s Transporter-9 mission on November 11, 2023. Lift-off of the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle occurred at 10:49 a.m. PT / 7:49 p.m. CET from Vandeberg Space Force Base Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) in California, USA. This is the 24th mission in Exolaunch’s flight heritage and brings its number of satellites deployed into orbit to 359. This launch marks the culmination of Exolaunch’s fastest launch cadence to date – seven missions total in 2023 – and the addition of standout new customers Foxconn, The Republic of Djibouti, Nara Space, Outpost Space, and Planet.

Exolaunch fully managed the launch missions of the majority of customer satellites clustered on multiple Falcon 9 Rideshare Plates, providing testing, shipping to the launch site, integration, and deployment services. Exolaunch also supplied hardware, integration, and deployment services to Planet on another port. This is the second mission using SpaceX’s novel Rideshare Plate architecture, following Transporter-8 in June 2023, and further consolidates the heritage of Exolaunch systems on Falcon 9.

This mission manifest featured the most deployment systems ever used by Exolaunch on a single mission: 15 EXOpod Nova deployers and 6 CarboNIX microsatellite separation systems.

Capacity on this Transporter-9 mission was provided through our Multi-Launch Agreement (MLA) with SpaceX first signed in 2020 and later on expanded to include new missions.

MISSION MANIFEST

• AEROSPACELAB, SPIP

  Built upon the heritage of Aerospacelab’s previous missions (Arthur-1, Grégoire, PVCC), SPIP is a small satellite designed and built based on the company's Versatile Satellite Platform. Its mission will demonstrate the performances of Earth Observation payloads prototypes, as a building block for upcoming multispectral missions and bring in orbit validation for a series of new units designed and manufactured in-house (Multiple Earth-Observation Imaging Systems, Optical Payload Electronics and Gigabit Ethernet Switch among others).

  An opportunity for Aerospacelab, a fast-growing company specialized in designing, manufacturing and operating small satellite systems, to demonstrate its expertise on a vertical manufacturing integration, SPIP is also expected to concretize the company’s project to build a constellation of Multispectral satellites in the following years.

• ENDUROSAT, PLATFORM-5

  EnduroSat provides a unique ‘Space-as-a-Service', based on its software-flexible NanoSats, to business, exploration, and science teams. Its focus is on the development of next-generation commercial space applications and exploration programs. EnduroSat is one of the fastest-growing space companies in Europe.

  A proud member of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) and Endeavor Network, EnduroSat’s team exceeds 150+ talented developers, engineers, and scientists, currently serving more than 220+ clients worldwide. Customers for the Space Data Service include commercial space companies focused on IoT, remote sensing, meteorology, and Earth observation; and research organizations including space agencies, universities, and institutes.

• HON HAI TECHNOLOGY GROUP (FOXCONN), PEARL-1H AND PEARL-1C

  PEARL-1H and PEARL-1C are proof of concept, LEO 6U XL CubeSats. One of the first industry-academia collaborations of its kind in Taiwan, the PEARL’s pilot run is tasked with several missions: to monitor subsystem and electronic parameters in space; to measure space communications channel characterization; and to test space broadband communications. Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn) is the world’s leading electronics manufacturing service provider. PEARL is part of the Group’s plan to scale advanced technologies that includenext-generationn communications, artificial intelligence and semiconductors, alongside three core industries of electric vehicles, robotics and digital health. Together, these make up Foxconn’s “3+3” development strategy and blueprint.

• ICEYE, FOUR SATELLITES

  Four satellites with a SAR payload were deployed using CarboNIX microsatellite separation systems for ICEYE, a long-running and valued customer. ICEYE delivers unmatched persistent monitoring capabilities for any location on Earth. Owning the world's largest synthetic-aperture radar constellation, the company enables objective, data-driven decisions for its customers in sectors such as insurance, natural catastrophe response and recovery, security, maritime monitoring, and finance. ICEYE's data can be collected day or night, and even through cloud cover.

• CSUM AND THE REPUBLIC OF DJIBOUTI, DJIBOUTI-1A

  DJIBOUTI-1A is the first satellite of the Republic of Djibouti developed under the lead of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research of Djibouti (MENSUR). This 1U CubeSat was entirely built by a team of ten Djiboutian technicians and engineers who graduated from the University of Montpellier before joining the Space Agency of Djibouti (ASD - Agence Spatiale Djiboutienne). The aim of the satellite is to collect data from climate, rainfall and limnimetric stations spread across the Djiboutian territory. DJIBOUTI-1A will make possible for the Djiboutian Centre for Studies and Research (CERD - Centre d’Etudes et de Recherche de Djibouti) to track environmental changes across the country.

  In 2019, the project was initiated and approved by His Excellency President of the Republic of Djibouti, Ismail Omar Guelleh enlisting the launch of a Djiboutian space program. Four years later, the launch of Djibouti-1A marks the entry of the Republic of Djibouti into the very exclusive club of space-faring nations. It also paves the way to a generation of well-trained young Djiboutians in space engineering. From the beginning, this project received a full and enthusiastic support from Dr. Nabil Mohamed Ahmed, Minister of Higher Education and Research of Djibouti, who coordinated and funded the Djiboutian space program. In 2022, the first Djiboutian space law was enacted, following tremendous work done by the General Secretary of the MENSUR, Mr. Aboubaker HASSAN. In 2023, a ground station was installed in Djibouti, allowing for the operation of the Djiboutian satellites by Djiboutian people from the Djiboutian territory. A second satellite, DJIBOUTI-1B, will be launched in February 2024 to improve the in-orbit data collection capabilities.

• KONGSBERG NANOAVIONICS, PROTOMETHÉE-1 AND NINJASAT

  Kongsberg NanoAvionics' mission is improving time to space and time in space through reliable, cost-effective satellite platforms and complete mission services. Their multiple customer satellites launched aboard Transporter-9 include a 16U high-resolution Earth Observation nanosatellite for French company Prométhée Space Intelligence, and a 6U nanosatellite for RIKEN, Japan's largest comprehensive research institution, and Mitsui Busan Aerospace to observe X-ray photons from objects such as black holes and neutron stars.

• NARA SPACE, OBSERVER-1A

  Observer-1A, the first generation satellite of Nara Space's Earth Observation constellation mission, was deployed with the mission of generating a super-resolution (SR) algorithm, which is a key technology to increase the spatial resolution of Observer-1A's images by three times. Nara Space, founded in 2015 in South Korea, plans to build a real-time Earth observation infrastructure consisting of more than 100 nanosatellites by 2027. The real-time space big data service using Nara Space's satellite cluster will help solve a variety of Earth's challenges from a cosmic perspective, providing completely different insights from existing data services.

• OPEN COSMOS, PLATERO AND MANTIS

  MANTIS, the first satellite under ESA InCubed, funded by ESA Φ-lab, focuses on Earth observation (EO) across the value chain. It hosts a multispectral, high-res EO payload and an AI-powered processing unit. PLATERO will monitor farming's impact on the environment, combining high-performance cameras with IoT tech for ground sensor communication. Open Cosmos specialises in designing, building, and operating space missions, offering straightforward access to satellite data and global insights. OpenOrbit, our end-to-end mission management solution, streamlines the mission process. DataCosmos integrates satellite imagery and data for actionable intelligence, while OpenConstellation promotes collaboration and global coverage.

  Our vision: Simplify space access, provide global insights, and drive impactful change for a better world.

• ORBITAL ASTRONAUTICS, ORBASTRO-TR1 AND ORBASTRO-PC-1

  ORBASTRO-TR-1 and ORBASTRO-PC-1 were deployed using EXOpod Nova for OrbAstro, a British customer focused on compressing the upfront cost and lead time for companies to go to market with powerful in-orbit infrastructure.

• PLAN-S, CONNECTA T3.1 AND CONNECTA T3.2

  ConnectaT3.1 and ConnectaT3.2 were deployed using EXOpod Nova for Plan-S, a returning Turkish customer and the country’s largest private initiative in space, specialising in mission computers, communications subsystems, and ground interfaces in satellite systems. The twin satellites serve as ISL and Orbit Control Test platforms, they pave the way for a comprehensive satellite network.

• OUTPOST SPACE, OUTPOST MISSION 2

  Outpost, the company building satellites that return to Earth, is launching their second Ferry-1 satellite called “Mission 2: Debug As You Go”. Outpost successfully launched its inaugural mission just five months ago, a testament to their rapid product iteration and development. Like Mission 1, Mission 2 is an experimental test flight of the company’s core bus technology. The Ferry-1 satellite is designed to host payloads for customers, and for Mission 2 Outpost will be flying two customer payloads, one for NASA Langley and one for ETH Zurich. NASA Langley has contracted Outpost to develop and fly GasPak: a low mass, cool gas generator developed to support NASA’s inflatable heat shield technology. ETH Zurich will be flying a new GPS system to gain important flight heritage.

• ROGUE SPACE SYSTEMS CORPORATION, BARRY-1

  Barry-1 is an in-space demonstrator for Rogue Space Systems’ autonomous AI robots that provide space sustainability services. Rogue Space Systems builds spacecraft to provide inspection, relocation, mission extension, domain-awareness, and end of life services to space operators and stakeholders. Barry-1 is designed to test Rogue’s novel Scalable Compute Platform (SCP) and its ability to aggregate data from multiple sensors and process that data in real time. Founded in 2020, the Rogue team is building a fleet of Orbital Robots (OrbotsTM) supported by a first of its kind AI-enabled sensory observation platform.

• SPACEMANIC, VERONIKA

  Spacemanic is a provider of turnkey nanosatellite missions and a CubeSat components manufacturer from Czech Republic and Slovakia. Presenting the third Slovak satellite, Veronika, a pink 1U CubeSat, Spacemanic reinforces its footprint in the local newspace market. This mission represents an innovative tool and great learning opportunity for educational institutions directly from space. Spacemanic is gearing up for the upcoming launch of Veronika satellite, together with Exolaunch, anticipating an exciting journey ahead and eagerly awaiting the next chapter of this successful collaboration.

• SPIRE GLOBAL, 10 SATELLITES

  Ten satellites were deployed using EXOpod Nova for Spire Global, a leading global provider of space-based data, analytics and space services. The satellites were deployed on behalf of Spire and its customers hiSky, Jacobs, GHGSat and SNC. Spire builds, owns, and operates a fully deployed satellite constellation that observes the Earth in real time using radio frequency technology. The company also offers Space as a Service solutions that empower customers to leverage its established infrastructure to put their business in space. This mission marks the most satellites for Spire Space Services on board a single launch to date.

• UNSEENLABS, BRO-10 AND BRO-11

  With the addition of BRO-10 and BRO-11 to its satellite constellation, Unseenlabs amplifies its capability to deliver pivotal RF data and solutions to an ever-growing international customer base. The extended satellite fleet signifies not merely an enlargement of operational scope, but also an enhanced ability to monitor and characterize vessels globally, underscoring a tangible commitment to safeguarding marine assets and environments against illicit activities and threats.

  Unseenlabs is the world leader radio frequency (RF) data and solutions provider for Maritime Domain Awareness. Its unique technology allows the geolocation and characterization of any vessel at sea, at any time of the day or night, anywhere on the globe, and in any weather conditions. Unseenlabs provides its customers with high value-added data and solutions to fight against illegal activities at sea. Unseenlabs’ solutions represent a world benchmark in both space and maritime sectors.

• PLANET, PELICAN-1

  Exolaunch provided a CarboNIX microsatellite separation system and launch-site integration services to Planet, a returning customer. Planet is a leading provider of global, daily satellite imagery and geospatial solutions. Planet is driven by a mission to image the world every day, and make change visible, accessible and actionable. Founded in 2010 by three NASA scientists, Planet designs, builds, and operates the largest Earth observation fleet of imaging satellites. Planet provides mission-critical data, advanced insights, and software solutions to over 900 customers, comprising the world’s leading agriculture, forestry, intelligence, education and finance companies and government agencies, enabling users to simply and effectively derive unique value from satellite imagery.

VIDEO © EXOLAUNCH, SPACEX