Iridium Signs Contract With ISC Kosmotras for Iridium Next Launch Provider

Iridium Communications Inc.

today announced it signed a contract with International Space Company Kosmotras as a supplemental provider of launch services for its next-generation satellite constellation, Iridium NEXT. The contract enables ISC Kosmotras to provide Dnepr launch services for the Iridium NEXT program in 2015 and beyond. Iridium has the capability and flexibility to launch the Iridium NEXT satellites on Kosmotras Dnepr and SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets to successfully deploy the Iridium NEXT constellation. "ISC Kosmotras is a well-established company with an excellent record as a reliable launch services provider, and the Dnepr rocket is a proven and robust launch vehicle with more than 15 orbital flights and 55 payloads deployed," said Scott Smith, executive vice president, satellite development and operations, Iridium. "ISC Kosmotras joins Iridium's world-class community of partner companies that are well underway with designing and developing our next-generation, truly global network."