SpaceX Launches Secure Communications Satellite for Spain’s Hisdesat

A artist’s rendering of the SpainSat New Generation 1 satellite. Credit: Airbus Defense and Space

Weather conditions were nearly ideal for liftoff, with the 45th Weather Squadron predicting a 95% chance of acceptable weather. The only potential concern was high-altitude cirrostratus clouds, which posed a minor risk of violating launch regulations.

“Overall, launch weather conditions look favorable as ridging aloft and an area of high pressure at the surface move over the Florida peninsula,” launch weather officers noted.

A Rare Expendable Falcon 9 Mission

This mission marked the 430th launch of a Falcon 9 rocket. However, unlike many previous SpaceX flights, the first-stage booster (tail number B1073) was not recovered. Due to the satellite’s need for additional thrust to reach a geosynchronous transfer orbit, the booster was expended—a rare move for SpaceX, which typically reuses its rockets.

Without the need for recovery, B1073 was stripped of its landing legs and grid fins. The last expendable Falcon 9 mission occurred on October 7, 2024, when SpaceX launched the ESA’s Hera
spacecraft toward the Didymos binary asteroid system.

Credit: SpaceX

This was the 21st flight of B1073, which had previously launched missions such as ispace’s Hakuto-R Mission 1, CRS-27, and 13 Starlink deployments. Despite losing this booster, SpaceX still has 17 operational boosters in its fleet, with the most experienced (B1067) having flown 25 missions. The company aims to certify its boosters for up to 40 flights each.

The SNG 1 satellite is the first of two next-generation military communication satellites under the SpainSat NG Program. Operating in geostationary orbit at 30 degrees West, it will be joined by SNG 2, which is set to launch at a later date and will be stationed at 29 degrees East.

These satellites are designed to enhance secure military communications for European and allied forces. Their coverage spans from the United States and South America to the Middle East, Europe, and as far as Singapore, ensuring reliable command and control capabilities beyond the line of sight.

“SpainSat NG represents the next generation of secure satellite communications in Europe,” said Laurent Jaffart, ESA’s Director of Connectivity and Secure Communications. “This launch marks a key milestone in providing more adaptable and secure communications services that will benefit governmental users across Europe and beyond.”

Each SNG satellite weighs approximately 6.1 tonnes (13,448 lbs.) and stands 7.2 meters (23.6 feet) tall. Built on Airbus’ Eurostar Neo satellite platform, they passed a critical design review in December 2021.

Equipped with cutting-edge technology, the satellites feature Airbus’ Direct Radiating Array (DRA) system, allowing them to switch between coverage zones thousands of times per second. They can
also adapt coverage areas to mitigate interference and precisely locate terrestrial signal sources.

Weighing 6.1 tonnes and standing 7.2 m tall, the new satellite carries special equipment that protects it from interference and ensures that communications remain private and secure. The satellite’s advanced antenna system can adjust its coverage in real time, optimising bandwidth allocation depending on user demand and environmental conditions. Credit: Airbus