Spacex launches 10 Iridium satellites from Vandenberg
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE — A Spacex Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched 10 next-generation satellites Friday for Iridium Communications from California.
The rocket, including a previously used first stage, lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force at 7:13 a.m. PDT and arced southward over the Pacific Ocean west of Los Angeles.
About an hour later, the rocket’s second stage released the satellites into low Earth orbit, circling from pole to pole.
“All 10 new satellites have successfully communicated with the Iridium Satellite Network Operations Center and are preparing to begin testing,” the Mclean, Virginia, company said in a statement.
The payload was the fifth set of 10 new orbiters launched for the company, which is replacing its entire spacebased mobile voice and data network with a satellite constellation dubbed Iridium NEXT.
The $3 billion project is scheduled for completion this year, with a total of 75 new satellites in orbit. Nine will be onorbit spares and an additional six will remain on the ground until needed. Iridium said it now has a million active subscribers.
The satellites also carry equipment for Aireon LLC’S air traffic surveillance system designed to provide airlines with frequent updates of aircraft positions, speeds and altitudes, even over remote oceanic and polar areas.
The Falcon 9’s first stage previously flew on an October 2017 Iridium mission and safely landed on a so-called drone ship at sea.