SpaceX credits SpaceCom with free launch after failed Facebook mission

[Guest]

Israeli satellite operator Space Communications will be sending its newest Amos-17 satellite aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at no cost in 2019. The news comes via a press release by SpaceCom that outlines the agreement that SpaceX will provide launch services for the Amos-17 in 2019 that will be followed by a second launch for its Amos-8 satellite in 2020. More notably, the “launch agreement” constitutes a correction to the failed Amos-6 satellite launch after the “Facebook satellite” was destroyed when its Falcon 9 launcher exploded during a routine static fire test two days ahead of liftoff.

SpaceX has provided the Israeli company “credits” from the unfilled September 2016 Amos-6 mission which SpaceCom will use to cover the launch fees for Amos-17. It’s not clear if the launch credits were a result of litigation after SpaceCom reportedly sued SpaceX for $50 million and demanded a free flight, following the failed launch. The failed mission put a devastating blow on the Israeli space industry, but arguably more so on social network giant Facebook and their initiative to beam high-speed internet to sub-Saharan Africa.

Despite last year’s setback, SpaceCom has renewed their faith in Elon Musk’s space company and has agreed to pay SpaceX up to $62 million for its Amos-8 launch in 2020. Ahead of Amos-8, the Amos-17 launch scheduled for the second quarter of 2019 is aimed at servicing the markets in Africa, the Middle East and Europe for up to 19 years.

Source: Reddit

 

The post SpaceX credits SpaceCom with free launch after failed Facebook mission appeared first on TESLARATI.com.

Via