T-minus
568days
07hrs
48min
57sec
Trajectory & orbital insertion
Ascent path is a representation — true ascent telemetry isn’t public.
Provider
SpaceX
Provider type
Commercial
Orbit
GTO
Mission type
Communications
Launch site
United States of America
Date
Fri, 31 Dec 2027 00:00:00 GMT
Orbital launch #
#7567 ever
Mission
The Skynet 6A gap-filler military communications satellite built by Airbus Defence and Space to cover the gap between the Britisch Skynet-5 network and its successor. Skynet 6A was solesourced from Airbus Defence and Space in 2017, but was not fully funded until July 2020. Aibus will build the Skynet-6A satellite in the United Kingdom and arrange a 2025 launch. RAL Space, a U.K. national laboratory, will test the all-electric satellite at its facility in Harwell. Skynet-6A, based on the Eurostar-Neo platform, is expected to provide communications services for the British military until at least 2040.