Iridium Eyeing Dec. 16 Launch Date for First of Its Next Satellites

The first satellites in Iridium's Next constellation are tentatively scheduled for launch Dec. 16, the company announced Thursday. That launch, originally scheduled for September, was postponed by an explosion during a SpaceX preflight ignition test and subsequent investigation (see 1610270015). Iridium said Thursday a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will put up 10 Next satellites in the launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, pending Federal Aviation Administration approval.