Fourth Set of Iridium NEXT Satellites Arrive in Orbit and Provide Telemetry

ridium Communications announced today that the fourth set of 10 Iridium NEXT satellites, launched Friday by SpaceX, are functioning nominally and have begun the testing and validation process. Not only did this fourth launch mark the midway point of the Iridium NEXT launch campaign, it is also the first Iridium NEXT launch to use a flight-proven Falcon 9 rocket.

Q&A with Dr. Michael Garcia, Director of Systems Engineering at Aireon

With nearly a third of Aireon’s space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) payloads already active in orbit, and with several successful flight tests under its belt, Aireon is well on its way to bringing the first truly global aircraft tracking and surveillance system to fruition.  Recently, Aireon’s Director of System Engineering, Dr. Mike Garcia took some time to answer a few questions about how the AireonSM system works, and how well it is functioning.

Successful Third Launch Brings 10 More Aireon Payloads to Orbit

Aireon announced today the successful launch and deployment of the third batch of 10 Iridium NEXT satellites, carrying its space-based automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) payloads.  Conducted from Vandenberg Air Force Base with a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 5:37 a.m. PDT, this launch has increased the total number of Aireon payloads in orbit to 30, with another 45 destined for space in a series of five additional launches planned over the next ten months. 

Aireon Gives the Air Traffic Control Association’s (ATCA) Young Aviation Professionals the Inside Scoop on Space-Based ADS-B

SNOC

On Friday, Aug. 11, 2017, Aireon hosted a group of ATCA’s Young Aviation Professionals (YAP) at Aireon’s headquarters, in McLean, Va.  YAP is an organization that is near and dear to Aireon’s heart, and is dedicated to developing the aviation industry’s newest leaders. YAP focuses on career development and empowerment through providing knowledge and exposure … Read more

SANS and Aireon Announce Commencement of Space-Based ADS-B Concept of Operations

Aireon announced today that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Saudi Air Navigation Services (SANS), Saudi Arabia’s Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP).  SANS is managing one of the largest and busiest airspaces in the Middle East, and through this MoU, SANS will develop and analyze a concept of operations for space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) as an additional layer of surveillance. Aireon’s space-based ADS-B system is completely independent of traditional ground-based services.

Initial Operational Test of Aireon Payloads

Twelve days after the delivery of 10 brand new Iridium NEXT satellites to low-earth-orbit, aimed at replacing the legacy “Block 1” satellites, Aireon was able to validate that the ADS-B payloads survived the launch. The initial operational tests conducted were planned to command the payloads power-on and verify that self-test parameters were successfully communicated through the on-board processor and space-to-earth communications link.