SpainSat NG 2 on the launch pad Thursday evening. Photo captured during launch livestream.

SpaceX successfully launched the SpainSat NG 2 satellite aboard a Falcon 9 rocket late Thursday evening from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral U.S. Space Force Station in Florida.

The Airbus-built SpainSat NG 2 satellite, built for the Spanish Ministry of Defense and Spanish operator Hisdesat, was delivered to geosynchronous transfer orbit for a planned maneuver to its final geostationary orbit. It is the second of two satellites scheduled to begin service early next year for the Spanish Armed Forces, the European Commission, NATO, and allied governments. The first SpainSat satellite was launched in January.

Both satellites are expected to begin service by spring 2026, supporting the Spanish Armed Forces, the European Commission under the GOVSATCOM program, NATO, and allied governments.

The launch was originally scheduled to take place on Wednesday, but was delayed for 24 hours. SpaceX did not give a reason for the delay.

SpaceX did not plan to recover the first stage rocket for the SpainSat mission. The first stage rocket used for the launch had flown and been recovered on 20 previous missions.