SpaceX announced a multi-launch agreement to deliver the Telesat Lightspeed constellation to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
The contract covers 14 launches from both California and Florida on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 to carry up to 18 Telesat Lightspeed satellites to LEO per launch. The launch campaign is scheduled to commence in 2026. Telesat anticipates offering global service beginning in 2027.
The optically-linked Telesat Lightspeed network will provide multi-Gbps data links and highly secure, resilient, low-latency, enterprise-class connectivity anywhere in the world. MDA is serve as the prime satellite manufacturer for Telesate.
“SpaceX has been a trusted and effective launch provider to Telesat on our geostationary satellite programs and I am delighted that they will be supporting us with their highly reliable Falcon 9 rocket to deploy the Telesat Lightspeed constellation, the most ambitious program in Telesat’s 54-year history,” stated Dan Goldberg, Telesat’s President and CEO.
“With growing demand for high-speed internet around the world, SpaceX is proud to launch and deploy Telesat’s Lightspeed constellation” said SpaceX President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell. “Building upon our successful launch partnership to-date, we look forward to flying Telesat once again as they expand connectivity capabilities for their customers across the globe.”
