Iridium signs launch contract with SpaceX
Posted: Thu, Jun 17, 2010, 7:10 AM ET (1110 GMT)
Communications satellite company Iridium announced Wednesday a nearly $500-million contract with SpaceX to launch its next generation of satellites. The $492-million contract covers an unspecified number of launches of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket carrying Iridium NEXT satellites. Those launches are scheduled to take place from 2015 to 2017 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Each Falcon 9 will launch several Iridium satellites, although the exact number will depend on the final size of the next-generation spacecraft. The contract is designed to cover the launch of the entire 72-satellite constellation, although Iridium also plans to sign a contract with at least one other launch provider to serve as a backup. The launches will take place from a Vandenberg pad previously used by the Titan 4; SpaceX estimates it will take $50 million and two years to refurbish the pad for Falcon 9 launches.
Communications satellite company Iridium announced Wednesday a nearly $500-million contract with SpaceX to launch its next generation of satellites. The $492-million contract covers an unspecified number of launches of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket carrying Iridium NEXT satellites. Those launches are scheduled to take place from 2015 to 2017 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Each Falcon 9 will launch several Iridium satellites, although the exact number will depend on the final size of the next-generation spacecraft. The contract is designed to cover the launch of the entire 72-satellite constellation, although Iridium also plans to sign a contract with at least one other launch provider to serve as a backup. The launches will take place from a Vandenberg pad previously used by the Titan 4; SpaceX estimates it will take $50 million and two years to refurbish the pad for Falcon 9 launches.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, August 25
MTG-I2 in the starting blocks!
Thales Alenia Space — 6:43 am ET (1043 GMT) No signal left behind: new ways to detect jamming and spoofing
ESA — 6:42 am ET (1042 GMT) Israel seeks leading position in space defense
Globes Online — 6:41 am ET (1041 GMT) Space Force Honor Guard showcases new ceremonial uniform in DC Grand Prix
Military Times — 6:40 am ET (1040 GMT) NZ star track: A watch on space from Beijing to Tehran, Paris to Somalia
Radio New Zealand — 6:40 am ET (1040 GMT) |
