SES’s O3b mPOWER System Receives Platinum Space Sustainability Rating
June 3, 2025 | BUSINESS WIREEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
O3b mPOWER, SES’s second-generation medium earth orbit (MEO) system, has been awarded the Platinum badge by the Space Sustainability Rating (SSR) Association. This is the highest possible SSR rating tier, and has been awarded to the O3b mPOWER constellation of 13 high-throughput and low-latency satellites, eight of which are already in orbit.
The O3b mPOWER mission was assessed across all phases: deployment, operations, and end-of-life disposal. The Platinum rating for O3b mPOWER was based on an in-depth analysis of more than 65 parameters, including: satellite count, orbital region, collision avoidance strategies, adherence to recognised design and operational standards, and SES’s overall approach to data sharing and transparency. SES is the second operator to receive a Platinum rating from the SSR, and the sixth to be officially rated.
Rather than evaluating individual satellites in isolation, the SSR assesses the aggregate sustainability impact of the entire constellation and considers how satellites interact, operate collectively, and contribute to the broader space environment. This recognition indicates that the O3b mPOWER constellation demonstrates minimal impact on the orbital environment beyond what is necessary for mission success and reflects SES’s strong commitment to sustainable space operations and adherence to internationally accepted best practices in space sustainability.
Prof. Jean-Paul Kneib, President of the SSR Association, Academic Director of EPFL Space Center and Head of the Laboratory of Astrophysics (LASTRO), said, "The Space Sustainability Rating provides an independent benchmark to encourage transparency among space actors, promote best practices in space missions, and support the long-term preservation of the orbital environment. The Platinum rating awarded to the O3b mPOWER constellation reflects SES’s strong alignment with the SSR’s criteria across the full mission lifecycle. We celebrate this recognition for the O3b mPOWER constellation and SES’s contribution to a safer, more responsible, and resilient satellite ecosystem. As the SSR continues to evolve, it aims to drive positive change across the space sector by highlighting leadership in space sustainability—such as that demonstrated by SES—and to encourage the global space community to make informed, sustainability-focused decisions."
Milton Torres, Chief Technology Officer of SES, said, “For 40 years, SES has been driving responsible best practices and developing new technologies, partnerships and solutions contributing to sustainable space. This Platinum badge not only highlights our leadership in sustainable space operations but also reinforces our commitment to responsible and innovative practices in the space industry, while supporting long-term space sustainability for all spacecraft operators.”
Testimonial
"Advertising in PCB007 Magazine has been a great way to showcase our bare board testers to the right audience. The I-Connect007 team makes the process smooth and professional. We’re proud to be featured in such a trusted publication."
Klaus Koziol - atgSuggested Items
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
08/29/2025 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007This week, we bring you Global Electronics Association’s Chris Mitchell’s government relations column on—you guessed it—trade deals. TTM is balancing its facilities between East and West. The Global Electronics Association released July numbers for North American PCB shipments, and the news is good. Meanwhile, the corresponding report for EMS might seem like bad news, but that’s misleading. Be sure to look deeper for the rest of the story. Finally, for a bit space-science palate cleansing, I’m sharing news of the latest launch of NASA’s X-37B.
Boeing-built X-37B Spaceplane Launches, Beginning Eighth Mission
08/26/2025 | BoeingThe Boeing-built X 37B Orbital Test Vehicle launched its eighth mission, lifting off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The vehicle is healthy on orbit and proceeding with standard checkout.
TI Semiconductors Enable Advanced Earth-observation Capabilities of ISRO’s First-of-its-kind NISAR Mission
08/25/2025 | Texas InstrumentsTexas Instruments (TI) semiconductors are enabling the radar imaging and scientific exploration payloads for the NASA-Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) synthetic aperture radar (NISAR) satellite, which was recently launched into orbit.
Rocket Lab Announces Expanded U.S. Investments for National Security Programs and Semiconductor Manufacturing
08/25/2025 | BUSINESS WIRERocket Lab Corporation, a global leader in launch services and space systems, announced it is boosting its U.S. investments to expand semiconductor manufacturing capacity and provide supply chain security for space-grade solar cells and electro-optical sensors for national security space missions.
L3Harris Expands Florida Facility to Support America’s Golden Dome
08/22/2025 | L3Harris TechnologiesL3Harris Technologies has completed a $100 million expansion at its satellite integration and test facility in Palm Bay to support the Department of Defense’s (DOD) urgent need for on-orbit technology for the Golden Dome for America.