Iridium NEXT: SpaceX and Thales Alenia Space

Iridium Communications, the company that manages the telecommunication satellites of the same name (and who amongst other services offers worldwide telephone coverage via its orbital relay network) has signed a contract worth 492 million dollars with SpaceX for the launch of part of its new fleet of satellites dubbed Iridium NEXT. This service is to be based on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launch vehicle which was successfully tested during its maiden flight on 4 June (see this Enjoy Space article). Its payload capacity will enable it to place several satellites in low Earth orbit in a single flight. Iridium Communications actually wants to renew its entire fleet; this amounts to a total of 72 satellites! However, the task is to be divided between SpaceX and at least one other launch company. The contract for building the satellites (72, plus 9 for ground replacement) has been awarded to the European manufacturer Thales Alenia Space. Between the satellites and their launch, the Iridium NEXT constellation is to cost almost 3 billion dollars.

Press release from SpaceX

Press release from Iridium Communications

Iridium NEXT presented on the Iridium Communications website

Published on 16 June 2010

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