Final Iridium Next launch scheduled for Dec. 30 Falcon 9 mission

[Elderberry]

Space News by Caleb Henry — October 18, 2018

The last mission needed to complete Iridium Communications’ second-generation satellite constellation is scheduled for Dec. 30, Iridium CEO Matt Desch said today.

The December launch will enable Iridium to get the entire $3 billion Iridium Next constellation in orbit by year’s end, though the satellites will take until early 2019 to reach their orbital slots.

Iridium currently has 65 Iridium Next satellites in low-Earth orbit, replacing a first generation constellation from Lockheed Martin that launched in the late 1990s. The final launch will add 10 satellites, completing the system of 66 operational satellites and nine orbiting spares.

More: https://spacenews.com/final-iridium-next-launch-scheduled-for-dec-30-falcon-9-mission/

[Elderberry]

Iridium is the world's only truly global mobile satellite communications company, with voice and data solutions covering every inch of the earth's surface. Reaching over oceans, through airways and across the Polar Regions, Iridium solutions are ideally suited for industries such as maritime, aviation, government/military, emergency/humanitarian services, mining, forestry, oil and gas, heavy equipment, transportation and utilities.