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SpaceX sends SiriusXM satellite to orbit with another spotless Sunday launch

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — After setbacks, a last-minute scrub, and a final one-hour delay, SpaceX has successfully launched and recovered yet another Falcon 9 rocket from Florida’s Space Coast.

This time, the company delivers the SXM-7 satellite to low-earth orbit for SiriusXM, meant to replace the aging XM 3 satellite in their fleet, dubbed “the first in a new generation of radio broadcasting satellites” according to SpaceFlightNow.

Mobile users, see tweet here.

The SXM-7 satellite launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station was built by Maxar Technologies, featuring a large S-band reflector to be deployed in orbit that will broadcast radio signals to SiriusXM subscribers on the ground, according to SpaceFlightNow.

If you missed our live coverage of the launch on WDBO, see it again on the official SpaceX YouTube page:

Mobile users, see livestream here.

A successful Falcon 9 launch would be incomplete without the recovery of the rocket’s first stage booster, occurring with no flaws upon the company’s “Just Read the Instructions” drone ship some nine minutes after ignition, save for a temporary camera outage upon landing; the SXM-7 mission marks SpaceX’s 69th successful recovery of a Falcon 9 first stage.

The SXM-7 mission is SpaceX’s 25th launch this year -- should the company find time to haul any more cargo to orbit before the year is out (and after, of course), be sure to return to central Florida’s launch headquarters at WDBO for live team coverage!

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