SpaceX has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to commence preparations to launch its Falcon 9 rocket on January 14.
Liftoff is scheduled for 9:54am PST (12:54 p.m. EST / 17:54 GMT) on Saturday. The launch was pushed back from last Monday due to unfavorable weather and scheduling conflicts by the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
The launch of 10 Iridium-NEXT satellites into low-Earth orbit (LEO) will be the first SpaceX launch since the Falcon 9 explosion last year.
The Thales Alenia-built satellites are part of Iridium Communications’ new wave of satellites, which will provide communications and data services to worldwide users.
“This is one of the largest commercial satellite systems being built today,” said Iridium CEO Matt Desch.
The 10 Iridium-NEXT satellites going into orbit will be the first of 72 to upgrade the company’s aging fleet. The almost 20-year-old fleet will be phased out in order for the company to better meet consumer needs in an expanding market. Each of the 66 active units (plus 6 spares in orbit) will provide over 6.1 million square miles of coverage.
The 2010 deal to launch the 70 Iridium-NEXT satellites between Iridium and SpaceX—valued at $492 million is the largest launch deal ever signed.
“The Iridium-NEXT constellation is the most ambitious, innovative thing in space communications that is going to happen anytime this decade,” the NewSpace company leader said in a video released by Iridium
Each of the 10 satellites weighs about 1,874 pounds—well within the capacity of the Falcon 9’s thrust capabilities. SpaceX plans to land the booster on an automated drone ship out at sea. The company has been working on converting SLC-4W—a vacated launch facility—at Vandenberg to a landing site. Still, they have yet to receive approval to land the booster on solid terrain.
The forecast in the Lompoc, California area—near the Vandenberg Air Force Base—calls for rain and clouds. Weather permitting, SpaceX will broadcast its launch on its YouTube channel.
