SpaceX wins Thailand contract

SpaceX said that it has won a contract to launch telecom satellites for Thaicom Plc., a Thailand-based communications company.

Specifically, SpaceX will launch the Thaicom 6 telecom satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit from Cape Canaveral the second quarter of 2013.

The Thaicom 6 satellite will serve the satellite TV market in South and Southeast Asia and Southern Africa. The satellite was built by Orbital Sciences and will be in service by mid-2013.

Thaicom is SpaceX's eighth international customer for flights on the company's Falcon 9 rocket.

In a statement, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk noted that Asia is a critical market for the company.

Related:

• SpaceX outlines Falcon Heavy plans: Rocket can carry 117,000 pounds to orbit
• SpaceX's Falcon 9 reaches orbit, returns to Earth safely
• SpaceX Dragon launch set for Thursday; private space flight's next step

This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com