A record 70 satellites built by Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space will be launched this year, more than any other company in history, says Mike Henshaw, the division's president.
Seven of the satellites are due for launch on a Russian Proton booster from Baikonur today. These are Iridium mobile communications satellites, 125 of which are being built by Lockheed for Motorola.
There will be 66 operational satellites in the fleet plus spares. Five Iridiums were launched aboard a Delta booster last month.
Other Lockheed craft include A2100 communications satellite buses being built for a range of customers in Lockheed's new purpose-built Commercial Satellite Center, in Sunnyvale, California.
Henshaw, a former Martin Marietta executive, has effectively formed a new missiles and space company after the merger with Lockheed.
"We very much started from scratch and that may not have been apparent to those outside," he says.
Source: Flight Daily News