NSSDCA/COSPAR ID: 2017-039C
The ten Iridium-NeXT satellites that were aboard Falcon 9 were the second batch of spacecraft to be launched towards a constellation which, when complete, will consist of sixty-six satellites plus on-orbit spares. The Iridium-NeXT constellation will replace Iridium Communications’ current fleet of satellites which were launched between 1997 and 2002.
Iridium relies on a large fleet of satellites in low Earth orbit to provide worldwide mobile communications. The company’s name comes from the metal iridium, which has atomic number 77 – the number of satellites that were originally anticipated to achieve global coverage. This was later revised down to sixty-six, but the name was retain
Launch Date: 2017-06-25
Launch Vehicle: Falcon 9 Full Thrust
Launch Site: Vandenberg AFB, United States
Questions and comments about this spacecraft can be directed to: Coordinated Request and User Support Office