Latest reports revealed that the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has already been loaded with Iridium satellites. The said tech devices will serve as the communicating gears to be used on the next rocket launch planned by SpaceX for a possible 2020 Mars manned mission.
After the rocket explosion in September, Elon Musk's SpaceX is reportedly gearing up for its next outer space project that is slated for a year 2020 launch. According to reports, the latest rocket ship being assembled by the company has already been loaded with 10 Iridium satellites, proving that the next mission of SpaceX is well underway.
The Iridium Communications has brought to social media by the end of December 2016 to announce that it has already installed the Falcon 9 with 10 of its newest generation satellites which will provide broadband connection to the Falcon 9 passengers. The satellite communication devices were reportedly stacked and encapsulated in the payload fairing of the SpaceX Falcon 9 as revealed the Spaceflight Now. Musk then confirmed the report and retweeted the update.
Prior to the installation, Iridium Communications already announced its plan to launch the Iridium NEXT through the Falcon 9. The launch was originally scheduled for Dec. 16 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, but it was unapproved due to the previous explosion of a spacecraft of the SpaceX. The alleged anomalous explosion happened during the routine fueling on Sept. 1 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
SpaceX did not provide a detailed report of the incident, and people then started to speculate a possible sabotage. However, Musk clarified in the following month that the explosion is unlikely caused by a sabotage and can be blamed to an operational failure. According to Space News, Musk explained that there might have been a solid oxygen formation, combining with liquid helium at the rocket's carbon fiber which caused the incident.
Following the incident, SpaceX has postponed all of its planned launch, but later announced in December that it is aiming to have a January launch. Also, the SpaceX Falcon 9 has lost its British satellite client, Inmarsat because of the explosion and switched to Musk's rival company, the Arianespace.
