SpaceX
and
Spacecom
Sign
Contract
for
Falcon
9
Geosynchronous
Transfer
Mission
27
January
2010
Space
Exploration
Technologies
and
Space
Communication
Ltd.
(Spacecom)
have
signed
an
agreement
for
launch
of a
communication
satellite
aboard
a
SpaceX
Falcon
9 as
early
as
December
2012.
Falcon
9
will
insert
the
satellite
into
a
geosynchronous
transfer
orbit
(GTO),
adding
to
Spacecom’s
existing
satellite
fleet.
Israel
Aerospace
Industries
Ltd.
(IAI)
is
also
involved
in
the
transaction.
Spacecom
provides
broadcasting
and
communications
services
to
DBS
and
DTH
operators,
as
well
as a
wide
range
of
broadcasters,
ISPs,
telecommunications
operators,
government
organizations
and
network
integrators
with
Internet,
voice,
data
and
digital
TV
services.
This
latest
deal
supports
company
plans
to
launch
at
least
four
additional
satellites
in
the
coming
years
to
multiple
orbital
positions.
“As
a
highly
competitive
solution
for
in-orbit
delivery,
Falcon
9
supports
us
as
we
transition
into a
leading
global
satellite
services
provider,”
said
David
Pollack,
president
and
CEO
of
Spacecom.
“With
a
larger
fleet
providing
more
service
options
and
capacity,
we
can
continue
to
provide
the
highest
quality
satellite
communications
services
and
exceed
customer
expectations.”
“SpaceX
is
proud
to
be
Spacecom’s
launch
services
provider
and
we
look
forward
to
helping
ensure
the
successful
delivery
of
their
satellite,”
said
Gwynne
Shotwell,
president
of
SpaceX.
“In
closing
this
deal,
SpaceX
now
has
twenty
three
Falcon
9
flights
on
contract
representing
a
variety
of
commercial
and
government
customers,
for
both
LEO
and
GTO
missions."
SpaceX’s
Falcon
9 is
a
medium-to-heavy
lift,
two-stage
launch
vehicle
capable
of
lifting
approximately
11
tons
to
low
Earth
orbit
(LEO)
and
in
excess
of
4.5
tons
to
GTO.
Designed
to
the
highest
levels
of
reliability
and
performance,
Falcon
9,
along
with
SpaceX’s
Dragon
spacecraft,
was
selected
by
NASA
to
resupply
the
International
Space
Station
starting
in
2010.
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