California aerospace company SpaceX is to carry a new generation of radar reconnaissance satellite into orbit for the German Defence Ministry, the company said on Thursday.
The satellites, provided by OHB System AG and Astrium GmbH, will replace the current constellations and will be delivered to orbit by two Falcon 9 rockets in 2018-19.
“SpaceX looks forward to working with OHB and Astrium, and we appreciate their confidence in SpaceX to reliably deliver these satellites to orbit,” said Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX president and chief operating officer.
“These missions are very meaningful for SpaceX as the first contracted for a European government.”
The company, based in Hawthorn, California, was the first private corporation to send a rocket into space, and its Dragon spacecraft is contracted to NASA for supply missions to the International Space Station.