D-Orbit, a leading space logistics company, has achieved a significant milestone by launching two orbital transportation missions, bringing the total number of payloads delivered to orbit to over 200. The missions, named We Need More Space and Ride With Me, were part of SpaceX's Transporter-15 rideshare launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base on November 28, 2025. These missions showcase the versatility of D-Orbit's ION orbital transfer vehicle, which can accommodate a wide range of commercial, institutional, and research payloads.
The payloads on these missions are diverse and innovative, covering various applications in the space industry. One notable payload is AI-eXpress 1 Plus (AIX-1+), which combines artificial intelligence and blockchain technology to enhance satellite responsiveness and data processing. Foresail-1 prime, a Finnish 3U CubeSat, carries a particle telescope and a plasma brake experiment, aiming to study radiation and demonstrate propellant-free deorbiting technology for more sustainable low Earth orbit operations.
Other notable payloads include Stellar Project's LaserCube Compact optical inter-satellite link demonstrators, Lacuna Space IoT satellites, Spire LEMUR-2 spacecraft, Spaceium's MS-1 robotic refueling actuator demonstrator, Pale Blue's PBI water ion thruster, and StardustMe's SD-3 memorial payload, which will remain attached to the ION vehicle until reentry. These missions highlight the growing capabilities of small satellites and the increasing demand for orbital transfer vehicles.
D-Orbit's mission control team is currently executing the Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) to commission the vehicles and prepare for targeted deployments and hosted operations. This phase further solidifies the ION platform's role as a flexible in-orbit logistics and experimentation hub, enabling a wide range of space-based applications and research.
The company's achievements in space logistics and orbital transportation demonstrate its commitment to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in space exploration and innovation. With over 200 payloads delivered, D-Orbit continues to play a crucial role in advancing space technology and enabling new opportunities for commercial, institutional, and research missions.
