A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched the SES-12 satellite. Credit: Space Exploration Technologies Corp.

SpaceX has launched the SES-12 communications satellite into space from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket sent the satellite into a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) on behalf of the global satellite operator SES.

Nearly 32 minutes after liftoff, SES-12 was deployed into orbit.

The launch was originally scheduled for 31 May 2018, but got delayed by a day. SpaceX aborted the flight again on Friday as additional tests had to be done on the rocket’s second stage.

SES chief technology officer Martin Halliwell said: “More content. More immersive viewing experience. Blazing internet speeds. Reliable cell coverage.

“All of these dynamic customer requirements can now be met with the successful launch of SES-12, which will provide incremental high performance capacity.”

“All of these dynamic customer requirements can now be met with the successful launch of SES-12, which will provide incremental high performance capacity and offer greater reliability and flexibility to our customers.”

SES-12 will join the current SES-8 satellite in orbit at 95°East and replace and improve the services currently being offered by SES’ NSS-6 satellite.

It is equipped with six wide beams and 72 high throughput user spot beams, and is one of SES’s the largest geostationary satellites.

Built by Airbus Defence and Space, the all-electric satellite also features a Digital Transparent Processor (DTP) to provide more customisable bandwidth solutions to SES customers.

Forming a part of SES’s current network of seven geostationary satellites and 16 MEO satellites, SES-12 is expected to provide video, fixed data, mobility and other services across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.