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, October 21
European aerospace groups reach framework deal on satellite merger, sources say
Reuters — 7:07 am ET (1107 GMT) Northrop raises annual profit forecast on strong demand
Reuters — 7:06 am ET (1106 GMT) Elon Musk now controls two thirds of satellites as 10,000th Starlink launches
The Independent — 7:05 am ET (1105 GMT) Muon Space to Integrate SpaceX's Starlink Mini Space Lasers Into Its Halo Satellite Platform
PR Newswire — 7:05 am ET (1105 GMT) Rocket Lab Schedules Next Electron Launch, Sixth Mission for Constellation Operator iQPS
Rocket Lab — 7:04 am ET (1104 GMT) |
