Six new ICEYE satellites launched

SpaceX launched its Transporter-16 mission today from the Vandenberg launch site in California. This was already the company’s 16th rideshare mission; the idea is that instead of sending a single large satellite, a Falcon 9 rocket carries many small satellites into orbit, and launch slots can be purchased almost like airline tickets. 

This mission carried 119 satellites, some of which were small CubeSats, while others were larger, roughly the size of a refrigerator.

Also onboard were six satellites from the Finnish company ICEYE, although some of them were manufactured in the United States by ICEYE’s U.S.-based subsidiary.

In total, ICEYE has now launched 68 satellites into orbit. The company is clearly the world’s largest SAR radar satellite operator. Its growth rate has also been remarkable: in 2025 alone, more than 20 new satellites were launched.