SiriusXM Activates Most Powerful Satellite to Bolster North American Fleet
SiriusXM has officially integrated its SXM-11 satellite into active service, marking a significant upgrade to its orbital infrastructure. Following successful in-orbit testing conducted by Intuitive Machines, the high-capacity craft is now broadcasting audio and data to support the company’s vast network of 210 million equipped vehicles across North America.
The SXM-11 satellite, which launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on June 28, represents the 15th spacecraft deployed for the company. Positioned 22,000 miles above Earth, the satellite features a massive 30-foot unfurlable antenna capable of covering eight million square miles. It is designed to replace the aging XM-5 unit as part of a broader fleet-refresh initiative that saw the deployment of SXM-9 and SXM-10 last year, with SXM-12 slated for 2027.
Beyond standard radio broadcasting, the new hardware carries a specialized communications payload to expand WCS-band coverage and support marine and aviation weather services. Sean Gibbons, Chief Product and Technology Officer at SiriusXM, noted that the increased power of SXM-11 provides a more resilient network, particularly in areas where cellular connectivity remains unreliable. The satellite, built on the Intuitive Machines IM 1300 platform, weighs approximately 15,000 pounds and underscores a long-standing manufacturing partnership that has produced 13 spacecraft to date.
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