• Iridium Next Satellite
• Iridium Next Frequency Band
• Iridium Next Modem

International Designator	NORAD Catalog Number	Name	Period (minutes)	Inclination (degrees)	Apogee Height (km)	Perigee Height (km)	Eccentricity	Latest Data	TLE Age (days)
2017-003A	41917	IRIDIUM 106	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002095	0.81
2017-003B	41918	IRIDIUM 103	100.40	86.40	780	776	0.0002657	0.75
2017-003C	41919	IRIDIUM 109	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002407	0.81
2017-003D	41920	IRIDIUM 102	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002455	0.77
2017-003E	41921	IRIDIUM 105	100.40	86.39	779	776	0.0002236	0.66
2017-003F	41922	IRIDIUM 104	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002283	0.76
2017-003G	41923	IRIDIUM 114	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002015	0.75
2017-003H	41924	IRIDIUM 108	100.40	86.39	779	776	0.0002072	0.87
2017-003J	41925	IRIDIUM 112	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002172	0.77
2017-003K	41926	IRIDIUM 111	100.40	86.40	780	776	0.0002560	0.78
2017-039A	42803	IRIDIUM 113	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002475	0.80
2017-039B	42804	IRIDIUM 123	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002469	0.69
2017-039C	42805	IRIDIUM 120	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002498	0.81
2017-039D	42806	IRIDIUM 115	99.77	86.46	751	745	0.0004307	0.78
2017-039E	42807	IRIDIUM 118	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002299	0.73
2017-039F	42808	IRIDIUM 117	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002320	0.71
2017-039G	42809	IRIDIUM 126	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002341	0.68
2017-039H	42810	IRIDIUM 124	99.77	86.45	749	746	0.0001951	0.71
2017-039J	42811	IRIDIUM 128	100.40	86.39	780	776	0.0002949	0.76
2017-039K	42812	IRIDIUM 121	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002461	0.73
2017-061A	42955	IRIDIUM 133	100.40	86.39	780	776	0.0002664	0.66
2017-061B	42956	IRIDIUM 100	100.40	86.39	779	776	0.0002264	0.67
2017-061C	42957	IRIDIUM 122	100.40	86.39	780	776	0.0002780	0.70
2017-061D	42958	IRIDIUM 129	100.40	86.39	780	776	0.0002642	0.67
2017-061E	42959	IRIDIUM 119	100.40	86.39	780	776	0.0002618	0.70
2017-061F	42960	IRIDIUM 107	100.40	86.39	779	776	0.0002363	0.69
2017-061G	42961	IRIDIUM 132	100.40	86.39	779	776	0.0002323	0.68
2017-061H	42962	IRIDIUM 136	100.40	86.39	780	776	0.0002610	0.72
2017-061J	42963	IRIDIUM 139	100.40	86.39	779	776	0.0002436	0.71
2017-061K	42964	IRIDIUM 125	100.40	86.39	779	776	0.0002355	0.72
2017-083A	43070	IRIDIUM 135	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0001761	0.82
2017-083B	43071	IRIDIUM 138	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002394	0.79
2017-083C	43072	IRIDIUM 116	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002125	0.76
2017-083D	43073	IRIDIUM 130	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002405	0.79
2017-083E	43074	IRIDIUM 151	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002179	0.81
2017-083F	43075	IRIDIUM 134	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002156	0.78
2017-083G	43076	IRIDIUM 137	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002214	0.76
2017-083H	43077	IRIDIUM 141	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002412	0.77
2017-083J	43078	IRIDIUM 153	100.40	86.40	780	776	0.0002972	0.89
2017-083K	43079	IRIDIUM 131	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002402	0.78
2018-030A	43249	IRIDIUM 144	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002013	0.88
2018-030B	43250	IRIDIUM 149	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0001764	0.66
2018-030C	43251	IRIDIUM 157	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002388	0.72
2018-030D	43252	IRIDIUM 140	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0001806	0.70
2018-030E	43253	IRIDIUM 145	100.40	86.40	778	777	0.0000864	0.71
2018-030F	43254	IRIDIUM 146	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0001766	0.66
2018-030G	43255	IRIDIUM 148	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002067	0.69
2018-030H	43256	IRIDIUM 142	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002051	0.86
2018-030J	43257	IRIDIUM 150	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002050	0.68
2018-030K	43258	IRIDIUM 143	100.40	86.40	779	777	0.0001598	0.70
2018-047C	43478	IRIDIUM 161	99.77	86.45	750	746	0.0002611	0.80
2018-047D	43479	IRIDIUM 152	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002126	0.80
2018-047E	43480	IRIDIUM 147	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002559	0.79
2018-047F	43481	IRIDIUM 110	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002260	0.79
2018-047G	43482	IRIDIUM 162	99.77	86.45	749	746	0.0002222	0.80
2018-061A	43569	IRIDIUM 160	100.40	86.39	779	776	0.0002371	0.84
2018-061B	43570	IRIDIUM 166	100.40	86.39	779	776	0.0002080	0.68
2018-061C	43571	IRIDIUM 158	100.40	86.39	779	776	0.0002061	0.85
2018-061D	43572	IRIDIUM 165	100.40	86.39	779	776	0.0002014	0.68
2018-061E	43573	IRIDIUM 155	100.40	86.39	779	776	0.0002502	0.86
2018-061F	43574	IRIDIUM 154	100.40	86.39	779	776	0.0002374	0.67
2018-061G	43575	IRIDIUM 163	100.40	86.39	779	776	0.0001752	0.69
2018-061H	43576	IRIDIUM 156	100.40	86.39	779	776	0.0002040	0.85
2018-061J	43577	IRIDIUM 164	100.40	86.39	779	776	0.0002222	0.66
2018-061K	43578	IRIDIUM 159	100.40	86.39	779	776	0.0002304	0.69
2019-002A	43922	IRIDIUM 180	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002203	0.77
2019-002B	43923	IRIDIUM 176	97.81	86.61	656	652	0.0002566	0.76
2019-002C	43924	IRIDIUM 168	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002282	1.05
2019-002D	43925	IRIDIUM 173	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002204	0.71
2019-002E	43926	IRIDIUM 169	100.10	86.42	768	758	0.0006939	0.76
2019-002F	43927	IRIDIUM 172	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002209	0.72
2019-002G	43928	IRIDIUM 175	97.81	86.61	655	653	0.0001766	0.70
2019-002H	43929	IRIDIUM 171	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002310	0.74
2019-002J	43930	IRIDIUM 170	97.81	86.61	655	652	0.0002297	0.76
2019-002K	43931	IRIDIUM 167	100.40	86.40	779	776	0.0002246	0.75
Notes: Link to additional information Link to custom search query for related news, information, and images Link to raw TLE data from 18 SPCS Link to interactive orbit visualization, using AGI's open-source Cesium JavaScript library, developed and provided by our partners at Digital Arsenal , , and in the International Designator column are for all objects associated with that launch

Iridium Next Satellite

WASHINGTON — With its full second-generation constellation now in orbit, Iridium has transferred all its communications services off of its two-decade-old legacy fleet.

“For the first time since the initial launch of the system over 20 years ago, zero traffic is going through the old satellites,” Matt Desch, CEO of Iridium, said Feb. 6 at the National Press Club here.

Iridium’s next generation satellite constellation will deliver exciting new innovations and opportunities, while ensuring continued high performance and reliability far into the future. To enable the Aireon system, Iridium will host specially designed receivers on each Iridium satellite, covering 100 percent of the globe. The Iridium satellite constellation is a system of 66 active communication satellites over the Earth’s entire surface and has become an innovation powerhouse with an array of integrated partners, such as Boeing and Honeywell. Iridium NEXT is a project that is focusing on the future and the next seven launches will involve Iridium NEXT.

1. The Iridium ® NEXT mission — to upgrade the entire satellite constellation — redefined what was possible for Iridium. When it was first announced in 2007, the idea of a second-generation constellation was greeted with skepticism from the company’s competitors.
2. The Iridium Next system will be very useful airport communication and air traffic control. Satellites in the new constellation will have life span of about 20 years instead of 7 to 9 years lifespan of old satellites in original constellation. Iridium Satellite System features with constellation.
3. Iridium NEXT will dramatically enhance Iridium’s ability to meet the growing demand for global mobile communications on land, at sea and in the skies. Iridium enables partners to create innovative products and solutions that haven’t even been conceived of yet, made possible through the flexibility of Iridium.

Iridium Next Frequency Band

The final two satellites in Iridium’s new fleet, called Iridium Next, entered service Feb. 5 at 2:15 p.m. Eastern, completing a refresh that began as the legacy fleet started to lose operational capability.

Desch said Iridium had already run out of spares and had lost one operational satellite by the time SpaceX launched the first Iridium Next satellites in January 2017.

“We were really operating a satellite short,” Desch said.

While Iridium was relying on 65 satellites instead of a nominal 66, the company had small service interruptions limited to “a few minutes outage once or twice a day” in areas where the satellite was absent, Desch said. The interruption was so minimal that customers were unaware, he said.

Iridium now has 75 satellites in orbit — 66 operational plus nine spares — and six spares on the ground. Desch said Iridium projects a lifespan of 15 years or more for the Iridium Next satellites.

European manufacturer Thales Alenia Space built Iridium Next, while Orbital ATK (now Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems) assembled and integrated the satellites in Gilbert, Arizona. SpaceX launched the entire constellation on eight Falcon 9 launches over the course of two years, with the final mission occurring Jan. 11.

Whereas the legacy fleet from Motorola and Lockheed Martin was designed mainly for voice communications, Iridium Next is optimized to support substantially more data services. Iridium announced Jan. 6 a transceiver with 35 times the data speed of existing devices. Desch said the device will be available mid-year to select ground segment manufacturers, and generally available by the end of the year.

Desch said Iridium has “deboosted” 52 legacy satellites, a process that involves lowering their orbits to catch the Earth’s atmosphere and burn up. So far, 47 legacy satellites have reentered, Desch said.

Iridium will deorbit the last 13 legacy satellites over the next few months. Desch said the average time between deboosting and complete deorbiting is 19 days.

Iridium Next Modem

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