SpaceX Launches Luxembourg’s NAOS Satellite Alongside Seven Others

SpaceX successfully launched an Earth-observation satellite for Luxembourg along with seven additional smaller satellites on August 26, 2025. The mission, conducted from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, featured a Falcon 9 rocket that lifted off during a 27-minute launch window, which began at 2:53 p.m. EDT (1853 GMT or 11:53 a.m. PDT local).

National Advanced Optical System (NAOS), developed by OHB Italia for Luxembourg, was the primary payload of this mission. SpaceX provided a live webcast of the launch, commencing approximately 15 minutes before liftoff.

Mission Highlights and Payload Details

The Falcon 9 rocket not only carried NAOS but also launched several small satellites for various organizations. Among the secondary payloads were satellites from Dhruva Space with its LEAP-1 mission, as well as Planet with its Pelican-3 and Pelican-4 satellites. Additionally, Exolaunch contributed with Capella’s Acadia-6 and Pixxel’s FFLY-1, FFLY-2, and FFLY-3 satellites.

The LEAP-1 mission includes two demonstrations: an advanced artificial intelligence (AI) module and a hyperspectral imager. Meanwhile, the Pelican satellites will enhance Planet’s existing Earth-imaging constellation. The Acadia-6 and FFLY nanosats serve as commercial observation platforms, utilizing synthetic aperture radar and high-frequency hyperspectral imaging technologies, respectively.

NAOS is expected to be deployed approximately 12 minutes after liftoff, with the remaining payloads following over the course of the next hour.

Falcon 9’s Performance and Future Missions

Following the launch, the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket will return to Landing Zone-4 (LZ-4) at Vandenberg Space Force Base. If the landing is successful, it will mark the 27th recovery for this booster, designated as B1063.

This mission represents SpaceX’s 104th Falcon 9 flight in 2025 and the 522nd Falcon 9 launch since the program’s inception in 2010. The successful deployment of NAOS and the other satellites underscores SpaceX’s role in advancing satellite technology and Earth observation capabilities.

As the space industry continues to evolve, missions like this reflect the growing collaboration between private companies and national governments to enhance global monitoring and data collection efforts.