Transporter & Bandwagon Rideshare
SpaceX
Regular small satellite rideshare launch programs delivering payloads to sun-synchronous and mid-inclination orbits at low per-kilogram cost.
Key figurescomparable across the catalogue
- Payload capacity
- 0.1 kg
Normalised to common units so this product can be compared with others in its category. The supplier's own wording is below.
As published by the supplier
- Transporter orbit
- Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) ~525 km
- Bandwagon orbit
- Mid-inclination (~45°), LEO
- Minimum payload mass
- ~0.1 kg (CubeSat)
- Maximum payload mass per slot
- Varies by manifest
- Cadence
- Multiple Transporter and Bandwagon missions per year
About
SpaceX’s Transporter and Bandwagon programs offer dedicated rideshare slots on Falcon 9, enabling small satellite operators to access orbit on a regular, scheduled cadence at significantly lower cost than a dedicated launch. Transporter missions target sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) at approximately 525 km altitude, while Bandwagon missions target mid-inclination orbits (approximately 45° inclination) more suited to Earth observation at lower latitudes.
Transporter missions typically fly multiple times per year, carrying dozens to hundreds of smallsats, CubeSats, ESPA-class satellites, and hosted payloads simultaneously. Each customer books a mass allocation, integrates their spacecraft into a dispenser or deployer, and SpaceX handles the launch. Bandwagon-1 flew in March 2024 and Bandwagon-2 in August 2024, with more planned.
The programs have democratized orbital access for small satellite companies and research institutions globally, providing a predictable, affordable, and high-cadence launch option. Customers from over 40 countries have flown on Transporter missions.
Pricing starts at approximately $5,500 per kilogram to SSO, making it among the lowest-cost orbital launch options available. Payload integration is handled by SpaceX or by approved third-party integration service providers.
Documentation
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