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Iridium Deploys Two Spare Birds
Two New Satellites Will Enhance System Life Span
Arlington - Jun 25, 2002 Iridium Satellite now has two spare birds on orbits following last week's successful launch from Russian's Plesetsk Cosmodrome onboard a Rockot launch vehicle. According to company officials the launch marks yet another major milestone in Iridium's return to commercial operations following the former Iridium company's spectacular failure in 2000 and which in a multi billion dollar write off. Combined with the successful launch of five spares last February, this event helps Iridium ensure that its global satellite communications network will continue to provide excellent service to government, corporate and individual users through 2010, if not longer. Launched by Bremen, Germany-based Eurockot Launch Services on a Rockot launch vehicle from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Northern Russia at 5:34 a.m. EDT today, the additional satellites join 12 existing in-orbit spares to help enhance the longevity of the global voice and data communications network. "The successful launch and deployment of two additional in-orbit spares further demonstrates that Iridium is a viable company with solid fundamentals and tremendous market opportunities," said Gino Picasso, Iridium Satellite CEO. "Combined with our ever-expanding global distribution network, Iridium is meeting and exceeding our business plan objectives." Consisting of 66 operational satellites plus spares, the Iridium system provides industrial, government and individual customers with global voice and data services specifically to communicate to and from remote areas. Based on Iridium's internal estimates and an external study by an independent company, the satellite constellation is expected to last until mid-2010. Iridium Satellite Inc relaunched commercial Iridium services on March 30, 2001 after it bought the assets of bankrupt Iridium LLC in December 2000 using money lent to it by Boeing as part of a deal that sees Boeing providing on-orbit management services of the Iridium constellation. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Iridium Satellite SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express Satellite Constellation - multiple satellite deployments in LEO and Beyond
Royal National Lifeboat Institution Tests Iridium Based Satellite Tracking System
Bethesda MD (SPX) Dec 20, 2005The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has begun testing a maritime safety system for automatic vessel monitoring and emergency alerting at sea using the Iridium satellite network. |
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