SpaceX's Transporter-15 mission deploys 140 payloads in record-breaking launch

SpaceX’s Transporter-15 mission successfully launched 140 payloads into orbit. This marks the second-largest deployment since the company’s regular Transporter flights began in 2021. The mission included a diverse range of satellites for Earth observation and technology demonstrations. Among the payloads were 36 SuperDove and 2 Pelican satellites from Planet Labs, designed for Earth observation. Five SAR satellites from ICEYE were also deployed, supporting the Greek National Space Program, the Polish military, and BAE System’s Azalea constellation.

Taiwan’s Formosat satellite was launched as part of its planned eight-satellite, high-resolution Earth observation constellation. Italy’s IRIDE national EO constellation saw the deployment of eight Eaglet II satellites, equipped with hyperspectral imaging and automatic identification systems.

The mission also carried GyeonggiSat-1, the first climate monitoring Earth observation satellite from a local Korean government. Satellogic contributed three NewSat Mark-V satellites to the payload list.

Two orbital transfer vehicles from Italian startup D-Orbit hosted payloads from ESA, Spire, Spaceium, Planetek, and StardustMe. Impulse Space’s Mira spacetug featured a non-Earth imaging camera, technology demonstrations, and deployed cubesats from FOSSA Systems. Loft Orbital’s YAM-9 rideshare spacecraft carried a hyperspectral camera from Wyvern and edge-compute technology for virtual missions. The Transporter-15 mission expanded global Earth observation and technology testing capabilities. Multiple governments, startups, and established firms now have new tools for climate monitoring, imaging, and space-based services. The deployment reinforces the growing role of rideshare missions in the space industry.