STOCKHOLM, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Eutelsat (ETL.PA), the world's third-biggest satellite operator by revenue, launched 20 satellites for its communications network on Sunday, using Elon Musk's SpaceX in its first move since the merger of two European companies last year.

Eutelsat (OTCPK:EUTLF) (OTCPK:ETCMY)—the world’s third-biggest satellite operator by revenue—launched its first batch of satellites using the SpaceX (SPACE) Falcon 9 rocket, marking a significant milestone following its merger with OneWeb.

The space company is set to launch its Falcon 9 rocket carrying 20 Starlink satellites at 7:31 p.m. Thirteen of the satellites will be carrying Direct to Cell capabilities. It will blast off into orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Another launch opportunity will be on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 7:06 p.m.

SpaceX plans to send a set of internet satellites to orbit for another company early Sunday morning (Oct. 20). SpaceX plans to launch the last batch of Eutelsat OneWeb's V1 satellites from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base atop a Falcon 9 rocket on Sunday at 1:13 a.

SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying a payload of 20 Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 7:31 p.m. EDT Friday.

SpaceX launches OneWeb satellites on Falcon 9 rocket Credit: SpaceX Watch live coverage of the SpaceX launch of 20 OneWeb satellites to low-Earth orbit on a Falcon 9 rocket from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.