Posted: Wed, Sep 12, 2007, 1:23 PM ET (1723 GMT)
SpaceX has won its first launch contract for a commercial GEO communications satellite from a start-up British satellite operator. London-based Avanti Communications Group plc announced Monday that it will launch its Hylas satellite on a Falcon 9 rocket in mid-2009. Terms of the contract were not announced, but Falcon 9 launches are priced starting at $35 million, significantly below other commercial GEO launch providers, although the Falcon 9 has yet to perform its first launch. Hylas is a small GEO communications satellite that will provide broadband services in Europe; the satellite's development is being partially funded by ESA.

Related Links:

•  Space News article (subscription required)
•  Flightglobal.com article
•  SmallCapNews.co.uk article
•  Avanti Communications press release