Launch services company SEOPS announced the addition of a second mission dedicated to rideshare services under the Waymaker program, a move that reflects increased demand for reserving space to deliver satellites to orbit. The Waymaker-1 mission will launch aboard a Falcon 9 rocket into a mid-inclination orbit in early 2028.
The announcement comes less than three months after the company revealed its first Waymaker mission, now called Waymaker-2. Waymaker-2 is scheduled to launch into a sun-synchronous orbit in late 2028, while SEOPS President Evan Hoit said the mission is more than 90% sold.
Changing the Destination of a Mission Intended for Another Orbit
Waymaker-1 will use a Falcon 9 rocket that SEOPS had originally ordered for a rideshare launch to geostationary transfer orbit, under the name Darkstar-1. The company purchased this mission in November 2024, with a plan to launch it in late 2028.
However, SEOPS decided to redirect the mission to a mid-inclination orbit after concluding that this option meets a significant portion of current demand. Hoit explained that demand for geostationary transfer orbit missions exists and is growing, but many programs associated with this type of launch are facing delays, meaning that a rideshare mission to that orbit may not be ready before 2029.
According to the company, the change allows the geostationary transfer orbit launch program to continue maturing while providing an earlier opportunity to serve customers who need to launch their payloads into other orbits.
Why Does This Expansion Matter?
The move comes as concerns grow within the satellite industry that SpaceX may reduce dedicated rideshare launch programs on Falcon 9. According to industry officials, the company is not accepting bookings for rideshare missions after late 2028 or early 2029, prompting satellite operators to seek alternatives for regular, relatively low-cost access to orbit.
These concerns create an opportunity for launch service providers such as SEOPS to arrange dedicated missions that combine multiple customers’ payloads in a single launch. In May, German company Exolaunch, which has secured launch slots for hundreds of small satellites on SpaceX missions, announced the purchase of two Falcon 9 rockets for dedicated rideshare missions in late 2027 and 2028.
Early Booking Becomes Part of Planning
SEOPS believes demand for launches to low Earth orbit is increasing, making customers more willing to book missions years in advance, even when all the satellites they will launch have not yet been identified. Hoit said the customers the company has spoken with are not acting out of panic, but are responding to their assessment of market trends and accepting early planning.
In practice, this means satellite operators may need to make launch decisions before their payload lists are complete, while assuming some of the associated commercial risks. At the same time, early booking gives service providers greater ability to build missions suited to different orbits and requirements.
Ambition to Build a Portfolio of Vehicles and Dates
According to Hoit, SEOPS does not plan to stop at the two Waymaker missions on Falcon 9. The company is in talks with several other launch companies, whose names were not disclosed, with the aim of operating additional dedicated rideshare missions.
Its future vision is to offer a portfolio that allows customers to choose among launch vehicles, launch dates, and target orbits. This reflects Waymaker’s transformation from a single mission into a broader services model, while details of future missions and participating launch companies remain undisclosed.