Displaying items by tag: Iridium NEXT

Aireon, a subsidiary of Iridium Communications Inc., takes advantage of Iridium's satellite constellation to help ensure globally optimized air traffic control takes flight.

To meet the challenges of space-based air traffic monitoring, Iridium created Aireon, an innovative new company bringing together global commercial aviation companies and air navigation service providers (ANSPs). Aireon will provide the first opportunity for global air traffic monitoring starting as early as 2017.

To enable Aireon services, Iridium will host special ADS-B receiver payloads on its next-generation global satellite communications constellation, Iridium NEXT.

Scheduled for launch between 2015 and 2017, Iridium NEXT's low-latency, 66 cross-linked Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites make it uniquely suited to meet the technical demands of global air traffic monitoring.

Iridium NEXT is a planned satellite constellation, foreseen to replace the Iridium constellation.

Iridium NEXT is a second-generation worldwide network of telecommunications satellites, consisting of 66 satellites and six in-orbit and nine ground spares. These satellites will incorporate features such as data transmission which were not emphasized in the original design. The original plan was to begin launching new satellites in 2014. Satellites will incorporate additional payload such as cameras and sensors in collaboration with some customers and partners. Iridium can also be used to provide a data link to other satellites in space, enabling command and control of other space assets regardless of the position of ground stations and gateways. The constellation will provide L-band data speeds of up to 1.5 Mbit/s and High-speed Ka-Band service of up to 8 Mbit/s. The existing constellation of satellites is expected to remain operational until Iridium NEXT is fully operational.

The Iridium constellation is owned and operated by Iridium Communications Inc.