BlueBird 11

Description

BlueBird 11 (BlueBird Block 2 FM6) is the first of three simultaneously launched communication satellites that comprise the next-generation Block 2 BlueBirds. These satellites, encapsulated atop Falcon 9, rode into LEO along a northeastern trajectory. The other 2 satellites are BlueBird 12 (BlueBird Block 2 FM7) and Bluebird 13 (BlueBird Block 2 FM8).

These three satellites are designed to deliver up to 10 times the bandwidth capacity of the traditional BlueBird satellites that are in orbit today. This accelerates the goal to achieve 24/7 continuous cellular broadband service coverage. The service will target approximately 100% U.S. nationwide coverage from space with over 5,600 coverage cells, with beams designed to support a capacity of up to 40 MHz, enabling peak data transmission speeds up to 120 Mbps, supporting voice, full data and video applications. The Block 2 BlueBirds, featuring up to 2,400 square foot communications arrays, will be the largest ever commercially deployed in low Earth orbit once launched.

The rocket for this mission, Falcon 9, is a 3.9 m diameter, 70 m tall two-stage rocket. Nine Merlin 1D engines power the first stage booster, while the second stage utilizes a single vacuum-optimized Merlin engine.

The booster, B1077, landed atop SpaceX’s autonomous droneship, A Shortfall Of Gravitas, which will be stationed approximately 640 km northeast of the launch site in the Atlantic Ocean.

This was Falcon 9’s 674th mission, SpaceX’s 704th mission, and the 185th orbital launch attempt of 2026.