Updated
Updated · Spaceflight Now · Jun 29
SpaceX Launches 7.5-Ton SiriusXM SXM-11, Replacing 2009 and 2010 Broadcast Satellites
Updated
Updated · Spaceflight Now · Jun 29

SpaceX Launches 7.5-Ton SiriusXM SXM-11, Replacing 2009 and 2010 Broadcast Satellites

3 articles · Updated · Spaceflight Now · Jun 29

Summary

  • 10:25 p.m. EDT liftoff from Cape Canaveral sent SiriusXM’s 15,000-pound SXM-11 into orbit, with the satellite deploying a little more than 30 minutes later.
  • SXM-11 is designed to replace SiriusXM’s aging XM-5 and Sirius FM-5 spacecraft and to improve signal reception while extending coverage in Alaska.
  • B1085 completed its 17th flight and landed on drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas about 8.5 minutes after launch, marking the vessel’s 158th successful booster recovery.
  • Lanteris Space Systems—acquired by Intuitive Machines for about $800 million in January—built SXM-11 on the IM-1300 bus; SiriusXM says it is the most powerful satellite in its fleet.
  • The launch continues SiriusXM’s constellation refresh after SXM-10 flew in June 2025, with that satellite expected to remain in service until 2040.

Insights

How will this Florida launch impact the daily commute and subscription costs for millions of drivers?
Is this billion-dollar satellite a final stand for radio against the dominance of internet streaming?
As orbital traffic jams worsen, how does this new satellite avoid becoming future space junk?