{"id":160624,"date":"2026-03-31T16:13:52","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T14:13:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.startupbusiness.it\/d-orbit-launches-the-22nd-mission-of-the-ion-satellite-carrier\/160624\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T19:10:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T17:10:23","slug":"d-orbit-launches-the-22nd-mission-of-the-ion-satellite-carrier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.startupbusiness.it\/en\/d-orbit-launches-the-22nd-mission-of-the-ion-satellite-carrier\/160624\/","title":{"rendered":"D-Orbit launches the 22nd mission of the ION Satellite Carrier"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On 30 March 2026, D-Orbit launched Wayfinder, the 22nd commercial mission of its ION Satellite Carrier (ION) orbital transfer vehicle (OTV), aboard SpaceX\u2019s Transporter-16 mission. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

The OTV was launched from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 04:02:00 PT (13:02 CEST). Following liftoff, the ION SCV Astounding Alexandra was deployed into a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of approximately 510 km. <\/p>\n\n

Wayfinder brings with it a diverse mission payload, combining satellites destined for deployment into their operational orbits with hosted payloads to be tested and demonstrated in orbit. Once in orbit, the ION SCV Astounding Alexandra will join the growing fleet of ION vehicles already operating in space, further expanding the network supporting D-Orbit\u2019s Space Cloud services and in-orbit computing capabilities. <\/em><\/p>\n\n

\u201cWayfinder embodies everything ION was designed for: deploying satellites to their operational positions whilst simultaneously hosting payloads that require time and specific conditions in orbit to demonstrate their technology, all whilst enriching our orbital infrastructure with new nodes for our Space Cloud Services,\u201d says Matteo Andreas Lorenzoni, director of the D-Orbit orbital access business unit, in a statement \u201cThis is what sets ION apart: a single mission capable of generating real value for multiple customers and use cases, making access to orbit faster, smarter and more cost-effective for all passengers on board.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

The ION Satellite Carrier is a versatile spacecraft capable of carrying and releasing satellites in separate orbital slots. It can also accommodate third-party payloads, including innovative technologies, research experiments and instruments requiring in-orbit testing. ION is also capable of supporting edge computing and space cloud services, providing satellite operators with advanced in-orbit storage and computing capabilities. <\/p>\n\n

D-Orbit\u2019s mission control team is currently overseeing the launch and initial orbit phase (LEOP), paving the way for the next operational phase.<\/p>\n\n

ION carries:<\/p>\n\n