Iridium Signs Launch Agreement with Russian Kosmotras

Iridium satellite communications signed an agreement with International Space Company Kosmotras to provide launch services for Iridium’s new constellation called the Iridium NEXT.

Iridium has 200 to 300 employed and is located in McLean, VA. Iridium’s new constellation is planned to be launched in 2015. The launch vehicles will be provided by International Space Company Kosmotras based in Moscow as well as Space Exploration Technologies based in Hawthorne, CA know as SpaceX.

The Iridium NEXT constellation will replace the 66 aging satellites currently making up the Iridium first generation constellation. Iridium is the only true global satellite communication provider in the world, covering all areas of land and sea as well as the poles.

The Iridium NEXT constellation is planned to be deployed between 2015 and 2017.