SiriusXM has announced that the Company's SXM-11 satellite is now operational, following successful in-orbit testing and handover by Intuitive Machines. SXM-11 is the most powerful satellite in SiriusXM's high-powered fleet and is designed to improve signal reception, expand Alaska coverage and support reliable service across North America.
"Bringing SXM-11 into service strengthens our next-generation satellite fleet and reinforces the long-term resilience of our network," said Sean Gibbons, Chief Product and Technology Officer at SiriusXM. "For listeners, that means a premium in-car experience with broad, reliable coverage, including where cellular service may be limited. Through SiriusXM with 360L, we combine that reach with the choice, personalization and interactivity of streaming, to bring the best of both technologies together in millions of vehicles."
210 million SiriusXM-equipped vehicles across North America are on the road today and rely on the proprietary satellite infrastructure supporting SiriusXM's in-vehicle listening experience. Built on the Intuitive Machines IM 1300™ satellite platform, SXM-11 weighed more than 15,000 pounds, or nearly 6,950 kilograms at launch. The satellite stands 28 feet tall and spans more than 106 feet with its solar panels deployed. Orbiting 22,000 miles above Earth, SXM-11 features a large, unfurlable 30-foot (9 meter) main beam antenna that broadcasts audio and data to users on the ground, with an estimated eight million square miles of broadcast coverage.
"SXM-11 marks another milestone in our longstanding partnership with SiriusXM. Over the course of our relationship, we have built 13 spacecraft together," said Chris Johnson, President, Intuitive Machines. "This handover reflects our shared commitment to mission success and the confidence SiriusXM continues to place in our team to deliver high-performance, reliable space systems. We continue to demonstrate our ability to design, build, and deliver satellite systems that meet the demanding requirements of today's commercial space market with robust, scalable high-power platforms."
SiriusXM also offers satellite-delivered Marine and Aviation services that provide pilots and boaters with weather data and other important information directly in their cockpits. SXM-11 carries an additional communications payload that will be used to deliver expanded WCS-band coverage.