Successful Third Iridium® NEXT Launch Brings New Services Closer to Life
October 09 2017 - 10:41AM
Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:IRDM) announced today the
successful third launch and deployment of 10 Iridium NEXT
satellites. The satellites were delivered into low-Earth orbit
approximately one hour after a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off
from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 5:37 a.m. PDT. With
two successful launches having already been completed this year,
this third batch of 10 satellites brings the total number of
Iridium NEXT satellites in orbit to 30, nearly half the amount
required for a full Iridium NEXT operational constellation.
While already able to deliver fully global communications
coverage, the Iridium constellation is undergoing a technological
transformation. At the center of this transformation are
three new capabilities; Iridium CertusSM, the company’s new L-band
broadband service; Aireon’s space-based automatic dependent
surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) hosted-payload, that will provide
real-time tracking and surveillance of all ADS-B equipped aircraft
globally; and Harris Corporation and exactEarth’s ship tracking
service.
“Each successful launch brings us one step closer to both a
technological and financial transformation,” said Iridium CEO, Matt
Desch. “One of our core strategies is to offer new services that
are either flat out impossible or not easily replicated by more
traditional “bent pipe” and geostationary systems. Satellite
Time & Location, Short Burst Data® and Iridium PTT are just a
few examples of global services only possible on our network. For
us and our partners, Iridium NEXT is an engine for innovation, and
services like these are just the start. Moreover, we’re on
track to completion in 2018.”
Iridium NEXT is the company’s next-generation satellite
constellation, replacing and enhancing its existing network of
interconnected, low-Earth orbit satellites spanning the entire
globe – the largest commercial satellite constellation in space.
The constellation’s unique architecture features
interconnected satellites that form a web of coverage around the
earth, enabling connectivity over the oceans, in the poles and
other remote areas.
The Iridium NEXT system and satellites have been designed and
managed by Thales Alenia Space, serving as prime contractor for the
program. The satellites are integrated at Thales Alenia
Space’s subcontractor, Orbital ATK’s, satellite manufacturing
facility in Arizona. Thales Alenia Space and Orbital ATK are
managing a state-of-the-art, high production rate assembly line
system, similar in approach to the process that built the first
Iridium satellite constellation over twenty years ago.
Iridium and SpaceX are partnered for a series of eight launches,
seven deploying 10 Iridium NEXT satellites at a time and one
deploying five. A total of 81 Iridium NEXT satellites are being
built, with 66 required for the operational constellation. A
total of 75 satellites are currently planned for launch with nine
of those serving as on-orbit spares and the remaining six as ground
spares. The entire Iridium NEXT network is scheduled to be
completed by mid-2018. For more information about Iridium NEXT,
please visit www.iridium.com.
About Iridium Communications Inc.
Iridium is the only mobile voice and data satellite
communications network that spans the entire globe. Iridium enables
connections between people, organizations and assets to and from
anywhere, in real time. Together with its ecosystem of partner
companies, Iridium delivers an innovative and rich portfolio of
reliable solutions for markets that require truly global
communications. The company has a major development program
underway for its next-generation network — Iridium NEXT. Iridium
Communications Inc. is headquartered in McLean, Va., U.S.A., and
its common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under
the ticker symbol IRDM. For more information about Iridium
products, services and partner solutions, visit
www.iridium.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Statements in this press release that are not purely historical
facts may constitute forward-looking statements as defined in the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company has
based these statements on its current expectations and the
information currently available to us. Forward-looking statements
in this presentation include statements regarding the timing for
deployment, development and capabilities of the Iridium NEXT
constellation and services to be offered over the constellation,
including Iridium Certus and AireonSM. Forward-looking statements
can be identified by the words “anticipates,” “may,” “can,”
“believes,” “expects,” “projects,” “intends,” “likely,” “will,” “to
be” and other expressions that are predictions or indicate future
events, trends or prospects. These forward-looking statements
involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of
Iridium to differ materially from any future results, performance
or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not
limited to, uncertainties regarding potential delays in the Iridium
NEXT deployment, the development and functionality of Iridium NEXT
and related services, and the company’s ability to maintain the
health, capacity and content of its satellite constellation, as
well as general industry and economic conditions, and competitive,
legal, governmental and technological factors. Other factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those
indicated by the forward-looking statements include those factors
listed under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 25, 2016, as well as
other filings Iridium makes with the SEC from time to time. There
is no assurance that Iridium’s expectations will be realized. If
one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if
Iridium's underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results
may vary materially from those expected, estimated or projected.
Iridium's forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of
this press release, and Iridium undertakes no obligation to update
forward-looking statements.
Press Contact:Jordan HassinIridium Communications Inc.+1 (703)
287-7421Jordan.Hassin@Iridium.com Twitter: @Iridiumcomm
Investor Contact:Kenneth LevyIridium Communications Inc.+1 (703)
287-7570Ken.Levy@Iridium.com Twitter: @IridiumIR
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