A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the Nilesat 301 communications satellite to a geosynchronous transfer orbit from Space Launch Complex-40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 5:04 p.m. on 8 June 2022. After stage separation, the first stage landed on the Just Read the Instructions droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

The Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting this mission previously supported the launch of GPS III Space Vehicle 04, GPS III Space Vehicle 05, Inspiration4, Ax-1, and two Starlink missions.

Thanks to a powerful Ku-band mission NILESAT 301 will reinforce NILESAT commercial leadership in broadcast services at 7°W over MENA (Middle East & North Africa) while opening new services over Southern Africa and the Nile Basin. In addition, a state-of-the art multibeam Ka band mission will support NILESAT’s entry into the broadband connectivity market over Egypt.

As prime contractor, Thales Alenia Space was responsible for satellite design, production, testing and in-orbit acceptance tests. NILESAT will also benefit from brand new satellite control facilities installed in Cairo and Alexandria, which are already operational to control NILESAT 201 in orbit.

The satellite is based on the Spacebus 4000-B2 platform weighing about 4 metric tons at launch with a design life exceeding 15 years.

Following NILESAT 201, NILESAT 301 is the second geostationary communications satellite built by Thales Alenia Space for NILESAT. It is also the fourth payload developed by Thales Alenia Space for the Egyptian operator.