Iridium Next Satellites 66 75

The iridium next constellation will offer global connectivity thanks to 66 interconnected satellites at an altitude of 780 km along with nine spares in parking orbits and six more spare satellites on the ground.

Iridium next satellites 66 75.

Each iridium next satellite is equipped with star tracker sensors provided by leonardo to guarantee attitude determination and control. Iridium communications owns and operates the constellation additionally selling equipment and access to its services it was conceived by bary bertiger raymond j. Conceived in 1987 and born a year later the iridium network launched commercial service 10 years later amidst the largest satellite launch program at the time. Nine minutes after launch the 1st stage of the falcon 9 rocket landed successfully on a floating platform in the pacific ocean.

With communications solutions ranging from satellite phones to broadband terminals iridium is trusted by more than a million mariners pilots humanitarians first responders and governments around the world. Iridium next 8 66 75 january 11 2019 42 15 31 utc vafb slc 4e falcon 9 block 5 the 10 iridium next satellites launched as part of this final mission were deployed to orbital plane three. The iridium next network covers the entire earth including poles oceans and airways with 66 satellites with the remaining 9 acting as active backups for a total of 75 launched. Iridium now has 75 satellites in orbit 66 operational plus nine spares and six spares on the ground.

The first generation launch campaign was completed in 2002 for a total of 95 satellites launched. A spacex falcon 9 rocket launched the iridium next iridium 8 66 75 mission on friday january 11 2019 at 3 31 pm utc. The launch completes the 3 billion iridium next constellation which now numbers 75 satellites 66 operational units and nine spares in low earth orbit. Desch said iridium projects a lifespan of 15 years or more for the iridium next satellites.

Six remain on the ground as spares for a total of 81 built.