How low can you go? SpaceX’s bid to serve as the Iridium Next launch agent was cheaper than the Indians and the Chinese. How low is it? Shockingly low. “That $492 million figure would launch all 72 satellites in our constellation,” said Matt Desch, Iridium’s CEO. So will SpaceX make up in volume what they’re [...]
Archive for the ‘Vandenberg’ Category
SpaceX Shocks The House With Iridium Win
Posted: June 18, 2010 in CCAFS, China, Desch, Elon Musk, Falcon 9, India, Iridium Next, Matt Desch, Musk, Space Launch, Space Launch, SpaceX, Titan, VandenbergTags: China
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SpaceX and Iridium Agree to $492 Million Launch Services Deal
Posted: June 16, 2010 in Commercial Space, Falcon 9, Iridium, Iridium Next, SpaceX, VandenbergTags: Commercial Space
SpaceX will be the major launch agency for Iridium next. Let’s see–here’s my ROM. As many as nine or ten Vandenberg launches with a massive amount of weight to orbit margin assuming a stack of five or six satellites. Perhaps other customers will emerge to use up some of that margin, but that adds complexity regarding [...]
Modified Ground-Based Interceptor Completes Successful Flight Test
Posted: June 8, 2010 in Beale, GBI, Ground Based Interceptor, MDA, Missile Defense, TPY-2, Two-Stage GBI, Vandenberg, X-BandTags: Missile Defense
Missile defense successes, much like uneventful landings, are not big news. Remember the three stages of defense innovation: first it can’t be done. Next, it will cost too much. Finally, ‘why didn’t we do this sooner?’ Missile defense haters were not immediately available for comment.
