Iridium to use previously-flown Falcon 9 stages on upcoming launches
Posted: Sun, Oct 22, 2017, 11:24 AM ET (1524 GMT)
Iridium will launch its next two sets of next-generation satellites on Falcon 9 rockets with previously flown first stages. Iridium had planned to use new rockets for all eight of its launches, but the company said switching to reused boosters will help it stay on schedule for launching the remainder of its satellites by mid-2018. Iridium will also see some unspecified cost savings by using previously flown boosters. The next launch, the fourth in the series for the Iridium Next program, is scheduled for Dec. 22 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
Iridium will launch its next two sets of next-generation satellites on Falcon 9 rockets with previously flown first stages. Iridium had planned to use new rockets for all eight of its launches, but the company said switching to reused boosters will help it stay on schedule for launching the remainder of its satellites by mid-2018. Iridium will also see some unspecified cost savings by using previously flown boosters. The next launch, the fourth in the series for the Iridium Next program, is scheduled for Dec. 22 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
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