In an exciting turn of events, SpaceX successfully launched its third mid-inclination rideshare mission, dubbed Bandwagon-3, on April 21. However, the number of payloads aboard this mission raised some eyebrows across the industry.

The launch took place at 8:48 p.m. Eastern from Cape Canaveral's Space Launch Complex 40, featuring a Falcon 9 rocket making its third trip. Adding to the thrill, the booster made a triumphant landing back at Cape Canaveral, touching down on a pad adjacent to one used earlier the same day.

The Bandwagon Series: What's the Buzz?

Bandwagon-3 marks the third mission in SpaceX's dedicated series for mid-inclination orbits, following the launches of Bandwagon-1 in April 2024 and Bandwagon-2 in December 2024. The inception of this mission series was prompted by the growing demand for mid-inclination launches, considered only second to the popular sun-synchronous orbits served by SpaceX's Transporter missions.

Limited Payloads Raise Questions

Contrary to expectations, Bandwagon-3 only carried three payloads: the 425Sat-3 for South Korea's military, the Tomorrow-S7 for weather forecasting, and Phoenix—the first reentry vehicle from German startup ATMOS Space Cargo. This is strikingly low compared to the 11 satellites that Bandwagon-1 launched and the 30 satellites from Bandwagon-2.

Industry insiders attribute the sparse payload count to a relatively low demand for mid-inclination orbits combined with the quick succession of this mission, just four months after Bandwagon-2.

A Military Connection: Project 425

Despite the underwhelming numbers, it's notable that Bandwagon missions are closely linked to a multi-launch contract with South Korea's military, aimed at deploying five reconnaissance satellites under the Project 425 initiative. Each of the Bandwagon missions has featured satellites from this project.

What's Next for Bandwagon?

SpaceX has outlined plans for a minimum of four additional Bandwagon launches, with two set for 2024 and two for 2025. Enthusiasts are particularly curious about the fourth mission, scheduled for later this year, which is expected to include the last satellite from Project 425. However, SpaceX has yet to announce plans for any further missions after this fourth launch.

Rideshare vs. Dedicated Launches: A Divisive Debate

The launch industry is buzzing with criticism directed at SpaceX's rideshare missions for allegedly undermining the market for small launch vehicles. These rideshare launches often come at much lower prices compared to dedicated small rockets. Yet, Rocket Lab, a major player in the small launch market, opposes this view.

Peter Beck, Rocket Lab's CEO, emphasized that dedicated small launches serve a distinct market and shouldn't be conflated with rideshare launches. He highlighted that many customers start with rideshare missions but later return for dedicated launches, which provide enhanced control over orbits and scheduling.

As SpaceX forges ahead with its ambitious mission plans, the ongoing conversation about the future of rideshare launches versus dedicated missions only intensifies!