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The 2018-05-21 Iridium launch was delayed by two days due to minor processing issues and preparation of a rocket component.
The final two Iridium Next launches will use Block 5 versions of the SpaceX Falcon 9.
Iridium expects the remaining three launches of Iridium Next satellites to be completed by the third quarter of 2018 with the satellites moved into their final positions shortly thereafter.
Iridium received a modest discount from SpaceX for using reused boosters but prioritized schedule certainty to maintain an 18-month to 24-month launch schedule.
The 2018-05-21 mission will carry five Iridium Next satellites and will be a rideshare with GRACE-FO, an Earth science mission developed by NASA and the German Research Centre for Geosciences.
The next Iridium satellite launch is scheduled for 2018-05-21 from Vandenberg Air Force Base on a SpaceX Falcon 9.
Iridium changed its operations after the 2009 collision of the Iridium 33 satellite with the defunct Russian satellite Cosmos 2251 to work more closely with the U.S. Air Force for updated collision-risk information.
On the 2018-05-21 launch, the Falcon 9 upper stage will deploy the two GRACE-FO satellites into one orbit and then relight to maneuver to a different orbit for Iridium satellite deployment.
SpaceX planned to use Iridium Communications’ satellite constellation to relay reentry data from the Falcon 9 upper stage.
Iridium’s net income decreased from $37,900,000 to $11.5 million, a change that included $25,000,000 of depreciation and amortization expenses and the absence of a temporary gain from an insourcing transaction with Boeing recorded the prior year.
Iridium expected to receive IMO GMDSS certification in 2018.
Iridium’s legacy satellite constellation and its Iridium Next fleet operate using L-band frequencies.
Iridium reached an agreement with BPI France to raise new debt and delay payments owed to BPI-connected banks, allowing the company to defer bank payments originally due over the next two and a half years out to 2023 and 2024.
Ten Iridium Next satellites launched on 2018-03-30 on SpaceX and were expected to begin operations within about two weeks.
SpaceX’s sixth Iridium Next launch was scheduled for 2018-05-19 carrying five Iridium Next satellites and two Earth science satellites for NASA and Germany’s Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ).
Of the $360,000,000 debt raise, $60,000,000 was allocated to Thales Alenia Space and $87,000,000 was deposited to a debt reserve account that is part of the BPI France Export Assurance credit facility used to finance Iridium Next.
The new debt raise enabled Iridium to pay Thales Alenia Space $45,000,000 in deferred payments related to Iridium Next.
Iridium completed a $360,000,000 debt raise on 2018-03-21 through senior-secured notes due in five years.
Iridium’s rideshare mission with the GRACE Follow-On satellites will use a flight-proven Falcon 9 first stage, representing Iridium’s third mission to use a pre-flown Falcon 9 first stage.