SEOPS adds second Falcon 9 rideshare as SpaceX phases out its own program
Launch services provider SEOPS has announced a second dedicated rideshare mission on a Falcon 9 rocket, capitalizing on strong demand and a gap left by SpaceX's own rideshare program.
The new mission, dubbed Waymaker-1, is scheduled for early 2028 and will deliver payloads to a mid-inclination orbit. SEOPS made the announcement on August 17, less than three months after it revealed its first Waymaker mission.
That first mission, Waymaker-2, was purchased in May and is set to fly to a sun-synchronous orbit in late 2028. It is already more than 90% sold out, according to SEOPS president Evan Hoyt. "We started looking at how we can best serve the demand we are seeing, and at this point, it became really clear that mid-inclination was the next right option," he said in an interview.
The Waymaker-1 mission will use a Falcon 9 that SEOPS originally ordered in November 2024 for a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) rideshare mission called Darkstar-1. That launch was planned for late 2028, but Hoyt said most GTO programs are facing delays. "The backlog for GTO is there and growing, but most of the programs we're finding are having delays," he noted, projecting that a GTO rideshare would not be ready until 2029. Repurposing the rocket for Waymaker-1 lets SEOPS serve the current market while allowing the GTO program to mature further.
The move also reflects broader industry concerns that SpaceX is winding down its own dedicated rideshare program on Falcon 9. Industry officials say SpaceX is no longer accepting reservations for rideshare launches after late 2028 or early 2029, creating a supply gap for small satellite operators. SEOPS's new mission positions it to capture a significant share of that demand during the transition period.
The Waymaker-1 mission will carry multiple small satellites and payloads from various customers, though SEOPS has not yet disclosed specific clients or manifest details. The company expects to announce further payloads in the coming months.
