Falcon 9 to Launch SES 16 / GovSat-1

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is targeting liftoff from Florida on January 31 with SES 16 / GovSat-1 communications satellite for operator LuxGovSat. Embarking on its second mission of the year, Falcon 9 will be flying with the first stage of last year's NROL-76 mission, this time in an expendable configuration for disposal in the Atlantic Ocean (despite the presence of legs & fins). Falcon 9 will be tasked with injecting its four-metric-ton payload into a Geostationary Transfer Orbit.

SES 16 has been commissioned by a joint venture between satellite operator SES and the Government of Luxembourg to provide capacity in the military Ka- and X-Band frequencies for government and institutional use by European states.