Iridium Next Satellite Launch

A spacex falcon 9 rocket loaded with 10 iridium next communications satellite is awaiting a predawn launch wednesday from vandenberg air force base california.

Iridium next satellite launch. The final iridium next launch took place on january 11 2019 less than 2 years after the first launch. The first generation launch campaign was completed in 2002 for a total of 95 satellites launched. The fifth mission iridium next v launched with ten satellites on march 30 2018. The iridium next iv mission launched with ten satellites on december 23 2017.

Iridium next hosting payloads on a communications constellation space segment launch mission status hosted payload missions references. Falcon 9 rocket. T minus 10 years to launch. Iridium next will replace the current constellation while retaining the 66 satellite leo low earth orbit architecture with six in orbit spares and nine ground spares.

Conceived in 1987 and born a year later the iridium network launched commercial service 10 years later amidst the largest satellite launch program at the time. The penultimate iridium next launch occurred on july 25 2018 launching another 10 iridium next satellites. Specifically the company announced the execution of a fixed price contract with thales alenia space for the design and construction of satellites for the iridium next constellation. On march 30 2018 iridium successfully launched the fifth set of 10 iridium next satellites into orbit from vandenberg air force base in california.

The sixth launch on may 22 2018 sent another 5 satellites into leo. The iridium next network covers the entire earth including poles oceans and airways with 66. The satellite is also named sentinel 6 michael freilich in honor of the late director of nasa s earth science. Click to explore exhibit.

Every component is designed for maximum longevity and to support a seamless transition from the existing satellite constellation to the new constellation. Not only did this fifth launch increase the total number of iridium next satellites in space to 50 but it was also the second iridium next launch to use a flight proven falcon 9 rocket. In 2007 iridium satellite llc announced its plans to develop its iridium next constellation and start deployment in the timeframe 2015 2017. The iridium next satellites are based on thales alenia s elitebus 1000 extended lifetime bus satellite platform each weighing 860 kilograms at launch and measuring 3 1 by 2 4 by 1 5 meters in size in its stowed configuration.