SpaceX's Falcon 9 returns to flight and is set on December 16 containing Iridium NEXT satellites. The mission will only happen if SpaceX secures an approval from the Federal Aviation Administration first.
SpaceX mission with Iridium's NEXT satellites will be the second attempt after the Falcon 9 exploded on the launch pad with $200 million payload. Three-months after its failed attempt, Iridium and SpaceX confirmed that its mission to send the NEXT satellites in outer space is already set next week.
SpaceX's Falcon 9 is planned to launch at SpaceX's west launch pad on Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at an estimated time of 12:36 PM PST. The Falcon 9 rocket will carry 10 Iridium NEXT satellites that will replace satellites in an existing satellite constellation. This mission is only the first of its planned 81 spacecraft that Iridium will deploy, The Motley Fool reported.
In a statement of Iridium CEO Matt Desch, he said that "we're excited to launch the first batch of our new satellite constellation." He mentioned that he is still confident in the SpaceX ability despite the previous failure of launching Falcon 9. He added that the transparency of SpaceX's Falcon 9 investigation made Iridium grateful and to look forward at the inaugural launch of Iridium NEXT, Universe Today reported.
The explosion of Falcon 9 last September was due to the "combination of liquid helium, advanced carbon fiber composites and solid oxygen," Elon Musk explained in an interview. The rocket exploded without a warning during a fueling operation.
Meanwhile, the Falcon 9 mission is a follow-up to SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk confirmation that spacecraft launches will resume this December. "We are looking forward to returning to flight with the first Iridium NEXT launch. Iridium has been a great partner for nearly a decade and we appreciate them working with us to put their first 10 Iridium NEXT satellites into orbit," SpaceX president and COO Gwynne Shotwell added.
