GFZ arranged a rideshare of GRACE-FO on a Falcon 9 with Iridium following the cancellation of their Dnepr launch contract in 2015. Iridium CEO Matt Desch disclosed in September 2017 that GRACE-FO would be launched on the sixth Iridium NEXT mission. The booster reuse turnaround was a record 4.5 months between flights.
Tuesday 22nd May 2018 at 19:47 UTC
VAFB SLC 4E
Falcon 9
Yes
No
Units: kg
Iridium Communications
Thales Alenia Space
NASA
DLR
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