Falcon 9 before first Iridium Next launch. Photo: Iridium.

Iridium Communications has announced today an updated date for the seventh Iridium Next launch. The Iridium-7 mission is now being targeted for July 25, 2018 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California with an instantaneous launch window of 4:39:26 am PDT. This updated schedule comes after SpaceX informed Iridium that more time was needed to prepare the rocket for launch.

Iridium Next is the company’s $3 billion, next-generation, mobile, global satellite network scheduled for completion in 2018. Iridium Next is replacing the company’s first generation global constellation with more advanced communications infrastructure, and will be used for applications in business, connectivity, and disaster relief efforts.