Iridium Communications was very forgiving after SpaceX's Falcon 9 exploded last September 2016. Now, the company wants SpaceX to get it right.
Because the January Falcon 9 relaunch is going to carry 10 Iridium Next Satellites that will jump start a new satellite phone system. And both companies can not afford any more delays and expenses. After learning that SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket exploded because of the changing temperatures and warm weather, this apparently has resolved all doubts in the upcoming relaunch.
SpaceX has promised to deliver 10 Iridium Communications satellites from Vanderberg Air Force Base in California next week. The satellites are part of the Iridium NEXT constellation network which will provide better communication services and assist air traffic controllers to monitor planes effectively around the world, as reported by Bloomberg.
Further delays can cripple revenue growth and shake investor confidence. The delivery of these satellites would mean replacing the old satellites with new ones. This will mean that the first months of 2018 will work on a newer network and enable the services promised by Iridium.
Iridium is relying on SpaceX to deliver a total of 70 new satellites into orbit over the next two years. These will involve seven separate launches, carrying 10 satellites on each trip.
The only question that remains is when the exact launch date will happen. Elon Musk excitedly Tweeted that Vandenberg Air Force is ready for the Falcon 9 and that alll systems are go for launch next week. When and what time exactly? Many users online take this to mean on a Monday. Initially, the launch date was reportedly set on January 8.
However, after weather reports indicated rougher winds on Sunday, it was moved to Monday. Also, a local news paper has published official notices that boaters and pilots of the upcoming launch has been moved to Monday instead of Sunday, as reported by the San Luis Obispo Tribune.
Elon Musk or SpaceX has not yet released specifics about the Falcon 9 relaunch details.
Check out the RT America news clip of the Falcon 9 explosion below:
