F9: Iridium NEXT launch 2 (10 commsats; June 25, 2017)

[Dr Mordrid]

Second launch of the weekend doubleheader, this is 10 next-gen Iridium NEXT commsats. Iridium is used for business, business to business, satellite phones and the US military. The second of 8 such Iridium launches for SpaceX.

Launch: 1324;59 PDT, 1624;59 EDT (2024;59 UTC)

Site: Vandenberg AFB, California

Pad: SLC-4E (a former Titan IV pad, beefed up for F9 & Falcon Heavy)

Stage landing: ASDS Just Read the Instructions

SpaceX patch

[Dr Mordrid]

Home run.

Perfect, if foggy, launch.

The fastest turnaround of the same launcher type since 1966.

The new Titanium grid fins worked perfectly.

Good stage landing.

All 10 satellites were deployed and have phoned home.

On to IntelSat 35e, which has its static fire on Thursday and launches in 10-14 days.