Intelsat Signs First Commercial Falcon Heavy Launch Agreement with SpaceX

[Chris Bergin]

Wow. These guys are having a great time! I'll write an article but here's the meat:

www.SpaceX.com
www.intelsat.com

Intelsat Signs First Commercial Falcon Heavy Launch Agreement with SpaceX

Advanced Vehicle Provides Expanded Options for Operator of the World's Largest Satellite Fleet

 

Washington, DC / Hawthorne, CA  May 29, 2012 - Today, Intelsat, the world's leading provider of satellite services, and Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), the world's fastest growing space launch company, announced the first commercial contract for the Falcon Heavy rocket.

 

"SpaceX is very proud to have the confidence of Intelsat, a leader in the satellite communication services industry," said Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO and Chief Designer.  "The Falcon Heavy has more than twice the power of the next largest rocket in the world.  With this new vehicle, SpaceX launch systems now cover the entire spectrum of the launch needs for commercial, civil and national security customers."

 

"Timely access to space is an essential element of our commercial supply chain," said Thierry Guillemin, Intelsat CTO.  "As a global leader in the satellite sector, our support of successful new entrants to the commercial launch industry reduces risk in our business model.  Intelsat has exacting technical standards and requirements for proven flight heritage for our satellite launches.  We will work closely with SpaceX as the Falcon Heavy completes rigorous flight tests prior to our future launch requirements."

 

This is the first commercial contract for SpaceX's Falcon Heavy launch vehicle.  Under the agreement, an Intelsat satellite will be launched into geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO).

[MP99]

Would be really fascinating to know what they intend to launch on FH, although that "more than twice the power" doesn't really apply once they're inserting to GTO (RP1 vs hydrolox).

cheers, Martin

Edit: ISTR either Gwynne or Elon teased a new contract at one of the COTS press conferences - presumably this is that.

[david1971]

"We will work closely with SpaceX as the Falcon Heavy completes rigorous flight tests prior to our future launch requirements."

Do we read this to mean that their payload will not be on the first launch of Falcon Heavy?

[Jason1701]

"We will work closely with SpaceX as the Falcon Heavy completes rigorous flight tests prior to our future launch requirements."

Do we read this to mean that their payload will not be on the first launch of Falcon Heavy?

I take it that way.

DIV-H: 10.1 kN (vac)
FH: 18.6 kN (vac)

So not quite twice the power, but close.

[Space Junkie]

"We will work closely with SpaceX as the Falcon Heavy completes rigorous flight tests prior to our future launch requirements."

Do we read this to mean that their payload will not be on the first launch of Falcon Heavy?

Maybe not the second launch either?

[FinalFrontier]

"We will work closely with SpaceX as the Falcon Heavy completes rigorous flight tests prior to our future launch requirements."

Do we read this to mean that their payload will not be on the first launch of Falcon Heavy?

Most likely yes. SpaceX usually flys one test mission first. FH-1 is already confirmed as being a development test flight. will be carrying some sort of mass simulator or more likely several mass simulators to simulate multiple payloads.

And I am sure if everything goes right they will be doing Stage 2 restart as they did on the first f9 flight.


But yes, its going to be a test flight only on flight one, to my knowledge. And considering the cross feed system that is a really smart plan.

[FinalFrontier]

"We will work closely with SpaceX as the Falcon Heavy completes rigorous flight tests prior to our future launch requirements."

Do we read this to mean that their payload will not be on the first launch of Falcon Heavy?

Maybe not the second launch either?

If the first test flight is a success the second flight will be operational most likely. Intelsat may not necessarily be the first payload, note that they said Intelsat was the first commercial contract for FH.

Can't say more about that as I know very little about various planned DOD or DOD related payloads but chuck or others might know more regarding this.

[kevin-rf]

And the OMG SpaceX Party Thread goes wild!!!

Glad to see a commercial GTO player being seriously interested in the Heavy. So will this use a Bi-Eliptic Transfer from Vandenberg or launch from some yet to be name swanky pad on the east coast pad?

[Seer]

Didn't see this coming, thought that there would need to be a successful test flight before any contracts signed. Congrats to Spacex.

[neilh]

Apparently Intelsat also recently filed for a $1.75B IPO a couple weeks ago, under NYSE symbol "I".

http://blogs.wsj.com/deals/2012/05/18/amid-facebook-satellite-company-intelsat-launches-ipo/
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-05/D9URC96O0.htm
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/18/us-intelsat-idUSBRE84H10Y20120518

[ChefPat]

Sending a successful mission to the ISS definitely has its own PR value.

[robertross]

And the OMG SpaceX Party Thread goes wild!!!

Glad to see a commercial GTO player being seriously interested in the Heavy. So will this use a Bi-Eliptic Transfer from Vandenberg or launch from some yet to be name swanky pad on the east coast pad?

Missed this thread completely today!

Congrats SpaceX! This should help their development cause nicely.

[ugordan]

Sending a successful mission to the ISS definitely has its own PR value.

This has to have been cooking for quite a while before that.

[yg1968]

This is big news! I was starting to worry about the FH not having any customer and was starting to think that SpaceX should postpone the FH test flight (until they have clients for the FH).  But this news changes things. I don't see the need to postpone the FH test flight anymore! 

[Robotbeat]

Sending a successful mission to the ISS definitely has its own PR value.

This has to have been cooking for quite a while before that.

Agreed, but the timing can't be coincidental. Like that PWR ad, the industry rightly values actually launching stuff versus just talking about it.

Still, they've only done 3 Falcon 9 launches so far... Get that flight rate up!

[yg1968]

Sending a successful mission to the ISS definitely has its own PR value.

This has to have been cooking for quite a while before that.

Agreed, but the timing can't be coincidental. Like that PWR ad, the industry rightly values actually launching stuff versus just talking about it.

Still, only 3 Falcon 9 launches... Get that flight rate up!

I could be wrong but I doubt that the first Falcon 9 version 1.1 will fly before the CRS-1 and 2 flights. So I would expect the CRS-1 and 2 flights and the first Vandenberg Falcon 9 version 1.1 flight to fly before the FH test flight.

[Robotbeat]

Sending a successful mission to the ISS definitely has its own PR value.

This has to have been cooking for quite a while before that.

Agreed, but the timing can't be coincidental. Like that PWR ad, the industry rightly values actually launching stuff versus just talking about it.

Still, only 3 Falcon 9 launches... Get that flight rate up!

I could be wrong but I doubt that the first Falcon 9 version 1.1 will fly before the CRS-1 and 2 flights. So I would expect the CRS-1 and 2 flights and the first Vandenberg Falcon 9 version 1.1 flight to fly before the FH test flight.

Yeah, totally agreed. I edited my post for clarity.

[tigerade]

Sounds like good news for SpaceX.  I am looking forward to seeing FH fly.

[krytek]

That's insane. Congrats to SpaceX!

[spacetraveler]

Didn't see this coming, thought that there would need to be a successful test flight before any contracts signed. Congrats to Spacex.

Well I'm sure the contract is contingent on the test flight(s) being successful.