O3b Plans December Launch for First MPower NGSO Satellites

O3b plans to launch the first three of its next-generation mPower satellites in December, followed by three more in early 2022, it told the FCC International Bureau Thursday. The company is seeking temporary authority to let the non-geostationary orbit satellites communicate with gateway earth stations in Hawaii and Arizona for 180 days starting Dec. 16 during launch and early orbit phase operations and in support of testing.