American satellites Iridium will launch in April 2016 on the Russian-Ukrainian conversion rocket Dnepr (RS-20 "Satan" ), the group will be fully deployed in 2017, said in an American organization Iridium.

first, it was expected that a couple of mobile communications satellites will be sent into orbit in the early winter of 2015 with the launch base "Yasny" launch area "Dombrowski" the Orenburg region.

"We have revised the original launch date for the program in Accordance with the updated delivery schedule of our Prime contractor Thales Alenia Space. In accordance with these terms, the Iridium launch program with launch services provider "Kosmotras" We have planned the deployment of the first 2 phones Iridium NEXT in April 2016, and We continue to expect full formation of the group of Iridium by the end of 2017 ", - said the organization.

in an international space organization "Kosmotras" said Fins news that they expect the customer launch of the official notice.

"Dnepr" - a three-stage liquid rocket first and second stages which are the regular stages of an Intercontinental ballistic missile RS-20 (SS-18 Satan in NATO classification). Modernization developed in Dnepropetrovsk (Ukraine) missiles RS-20B in the rocket carrier "Dnepr" carries out the Firm " Kosmotras ". Launches are carried out from the cosmodrome "Baikonur" and "Clear" - from positioning area of Dombarovsky connection strategic Missile forces (RVSN).

sections: Politics