Falcon 9 Block 5 | Inmarsat-7 F1 (GX-7)

Inmarsat-7 is the seventh generation of satellites for the London-based global mobile satellite communications operator Inmarsat. The three satellites of the series - GX-7, 8 & 9 - will have an improved fully reconfigurable Ka-band payload for Inmarsat's Global Xpress services. They are optimized for real-time mobility and feature thousands of dynamically-formed beams that direct capacity with laser-like precision over high-demand areas, to provide HTS (High Throughput) broadband connectivity for the mobility market. The satellites will be based on Airbus’ new standard and fully reconfigurable satellite product line OneSat. Fully reconfigurable and featuring on board processing and active antennas, the three Ka-band spacecraft will be able to adjust their coverage, capacity and frequency.

Falcon 9 is a two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of satellites and the Dragon spacecraft into orbit. The Block 5 variant is the fifth major interval aimed at improving upon the ability for rapid reusability.

Space Exploration Technologies Corp., known as SpaceX, is an American aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company headquartered in Hawthorne, California. It was founded in 2002 by entrepreneur Elon Musk with the goal of reducing space transportation costs and enabling the colonization of Mars. SpaceX operates from many pads, on the East Coast of the US they operate from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and historic LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. They also operate from SLC-4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, usually for polar launches. Another launch site is being developed at Boca Chica, Texas.