SpaceX to launch 10 Iridium satellites

Falcon 9 vertical at VAFB, California
Photo: SpaceX

Tomorrow (Saturday, January 14th) at 12:54 pm EST/5:54 pm UTC SpaceX will return to flight with the launch of 10 satellites for IridiumNEXT atop a Falcon 9. This will be the first launch by SpaceX after their launch pad anomaly during fueling of AMOS-6 which was caused by a fault in the second stage helium tank. The Falcon 9 will be launching from VAFB (Vandenburg Airforce Base), California at Space Launch Complex 4E. The first stage will then separate approximately 2 minutes and 27 seconds after liftoff and will be attempting to launch back on the droneship "Just Read The Instructions". If the first stage lands successfully, it will be the first time they've landed on JRTI. These 10 satellites are the first of at

Official Iridium-1 patch
Photo: SpaceX

least 70 in the constellation that SpaceX will be launching for Iridium. They will replace the world's largest commercial satellite network of low-earth orbit satellites which will become one of the largest tech upgrades in history. The satellites will be deployed 10 at a time by SpaceX and all of at least 70 will be in orbit by 2018.