Iridium Next

Iridium NEXT is group of global communication satellites of the next generation which is put into operation in 2017 and 2018, will improve the existing communication, will provide higher speeds of communication and a possibility of further expansion of capacities of the satellite industry. Investments in the Iridium NEXT project made $3 billion. It is supposed that in network data transfer rate will grow to 1.4 Mbps.

2019: Output to an orbit of the last 10 satellites of a system

On January 11, 2019 it became known that the carrier rocket Falcon-9 successfully put the last 10 satellites of the Iridium Next communication system to orbit. Thereby the satellite operator Iridium completed the project on formation of the satellite Iridium Next grouping consisting of 75 spacecrafts.

The Iridium Next grouping is intended for implementation of high-speed communication with mobile objects and also for support of services of Internet of Things. Deployment of grouping in a complete size will allow the operator to bring AireonSM and Iridium Certus services into commercial operation.

AireonSM is a global network of tracking aircrafts. It allows to define location of airplanes in real time, performs information transfer about a status of all systems, provides signal transmission of disaster and preserving of abnormal information. Iridium Certus is the broadband communication network with moving objects aimed first of all at security^[1].

2017

Preparation for the fourth start of 10 satellites into an orbit

Iridium Communications at the end of November, 2017 announced that 10 satellites of the next generation Iridium Next for the fourth start into an orbit already have training at the SpaceX spaceport on military and air base Vandenberg in California. This start will complete the first half of the starting campaign Iridium and SpaceX and will be the first of two starts of Iridium Next on Space X Falcon 9 with reusable first steps.

As reported, the fourth start is planned for December 22, 2017, 5:32 p.m. on the Pacific time, reserve date — on December 23.

It is remarkable that in the course of the fourth start the same first step of the carrier rocket Falcon 9 which displaid 10 Iridium Next satellites during the second start-up in June, 2017 will be used. Thus, Iridium will become the first in the history of the companies which reuses the same rocket. On arrival on the spaceport platform each Iridium Next satellite passes several stages of preparation, including prestarting assembly, gas station, installation of payload under the fairing. Further satellites submerge on two in specially intended for this purpose containers with a controlled temperature to provide the optimal environment.

We approach the middle of a way, and with each start we accelerate more and more — the CEO of Iridium Matt Desch said. — Success of this start will lead to the fact that the Iridium Next grouping will increase to 40 satellites, and it already more than a half of the total quantity of satellites required for a full-fledged work of the Iridium grouping. We with own eyes see how speed grows, capacity and throughput capabilities of network as we continue to replace the operating satellites with Iridium Next.

As of November, 2017, the Iridium grouping consists of 66 satellites and is divided into six polar and orbital planes, in each of which on 11 satellites. 9 of those 10 satellites which prepare for sending now are intended for the second orbital plane; they will be put into operation right after careful testing and check. The remained satellite will continue to move and approximately in a year will take the place in the first orbital plane as spare.

Iridium and SpaceX performed already three starts, each of which displaid 10 Iridium Next satellites; the fourth start will bring their total quantity in an orbit to 40. According to Iridium, the company signed the contract with SpaceX for delivery to an orbit in total of 75 Iridium Next satellites (from them 66 operational and 9 reserve) during eight starts.

The first 10 Iridium Next satellites

On January 14, 2017 Iridium Communications announced start of the first ten Iridium NEXT satellites. Satellites are put to a low earth orbit approximately in an hour after start-up of the carrier rocket Falcon 9 of SpaceX company (took place at 9:54 a.m. local time) from the spaceport based on the American Air Force Vandenberg, the State of California.

From the moment of the first start within 18 months it is supposed to put 70 spacecrafts to orbit (66 Iridium NEXT satellites will replace 66 devices of the previous generation, and will remain in a reserve a little).

On January 31, 2017 it was announced agreement signature with Space X company about carrying out start, the eighth for partners, with the help the Falcon 9 rocket carrier. During it it is going to put to orbit five reserve satellites of the Iridium Next grouping.

Falcon 9 will perform launch also of two satellites of NASA/GFZ (German Research Centre for Geosciences) according to the program of studying of climate and gravitational perturbations (the mission of GRACE-FO). Satellites of NASA/GFZ will be separately put to a low earth orbit.

Iridium NEXT is a grouping of satellites which will expand opportunities, and afterwards will replace the existing network of low earth orbit satellites of the company covering all globe. At the moment it is the largest grouping of commercial satellites in space.

It is the first of a series of starts Iridium NEXT planned for the next 18 months which, nevertheless, will lay the foundation for the biggest upgrade in the history of space satellites. As a result the only grouping which is really providing an absolute covering worldwide will completely be updated less than in two years.

After complete deployment of Iridium NEXT there will begin work the multiservice platform of broadband communication Iridium CertusSM which guarantees technical flexibility of the innovation services and support of any technologies used in a wide partner network of the operator. Treats such technologies, let us assume, unique developments of Aireon company (its modules are placed on satellites as passing payload), which in real time will provide control of airplanes in an every spot on the globe.

The first ten Iridium NEXT satellites were taken into a temporary orbit 625 kilometers high where within the next weeks the operator will be engaged in their testing and setup. After end of tests and the actual observance of certified requirements satellites will transfer to their working orbit at the height of 780 km, and devices will undertake service of subscribers at once. New satellites one by one will take the place near acting (already previous generation), each pair by the beginning of testing should move at a speed about 17 miles per hour (about 27 km). There will be a readdressing of unique links from the next satellites on new as soon as the new device is ready to begin service. To already served satellites gradually will reduce speed then to remove them from an orbit at all.

Thales Alenia Space companies, the general contractor of the project, and her production subcontractor, Orbital ATK, worked on the Iridium NEXT program at all stages - from development and release of satellite devices before management of the latest assembly line on 18 sections.

In addition to the Thales Alenia Space company acting as the system general contractor of the program, Iridium signed the contract with SpaceX for start of 70 Iridium NEXT satellites with the help the Falcon 9 rocket carriers.

According to the contract Iridium and SpaceX, a series from seven starts will take place, each of which will put ten Iridium NEXT satellites to orbit. Carrying out orbital tests which should confirm that satellites meet all stated requirements will become not less important stage. Therefore the second start of Iridium NEXT will take place after end of tests, in April. Is going to finish deployment of network of satellites of the next generation to the middle of 2018.

2016: Station of interface

At the end of 2016 in Russia, in Izhevsk, the station of interface which is already completely ready for work with the Iridium NEXT satellites was built. With high probability with its help in an orbit the first devices of the next generation will be tested.

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