Iridium NEXT satellite constellation could allow planes to be tracked around the globe

MCLEAN, Va., - A newly completed constellation of satellites is poised to provide unprecedented tracking of the hundreds of thousands of aircraft that soar over the Earth every day. It’s a type of global coverage that’s never been fully realized before, but it has the potential to influence how air traffic is managed throughout the world, reports Loren Grush for The Verge.

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The Intelligent Aerospace take:

February 7, 2019 -SpaceX recently put the final Iridium NEXT satellites into orbit. The constellation of 75 satellites' main function is to provide telecommunication coverage all over Earth. Because of the global reach of the satellites, Iridium NEXT could prove useful in reporting the location - as well as speed and altitude - of planes flying out of reach of terrestrial receiver towers.

Related: Collins Aerospace signs agreement to provide Iridium Certus terminals on Boeing 737 MAX and 777X airplanes

Related: SpaceX delivers final 10 Iridium NEXT satellites to low earth orbit

Related: Iridium completes another round of NEXT satellite launches, names Rockwell Collins as service provider

Jamie Whitney, Associate Editor
Intelligent Aerospace

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