Spare Satellite Moved Into Position Last Week

Iridium announced Monday it recently replaced the operational Iridium satellite lost in a collision three weeks ago with a non-operational Russian satellite. Service was maintained throughout Iridium's 66 satellite network while the company maneuvered one of its in-orbit spares in position last week, to replace the lost on-orbit telecommunications relay station.

"I am particularly proud of the Iridium and Boeing teams that manage our constellation. They moved quickly, efficiently and effectively to limit the minor service degradation caused by the collision and to return our constellation to its full configuration," said Matt Desch, chairman and chief executive officer, Iridium. "They are among the best in the business, and the speed with which they acted is testament to their ingenuity and commitment to Iridium's customers."

The company also pointed noted it, along with many other commercial space operators, has been engaged for some time with the US government to reduce the risk of on-orbit collisions, like the type that took out Iridium's satellite. The company says it continues to work to improve assessment and warning in venues such as the Commercial and Foreign Entities program, direct interaction with the US Strategic Command and the National Space Security Office, and with industry organizations such as the Satellite Industry Association.

"While these have been useful efforts, Iridium believes this incident has demonstrated the need for even more aggressive action, and the company supports enhanced actions to increase the margin of safety for space operations," the company stated, adding long-term investment should be made to improve space situational awareness.

Iridium also said better communication is needed between industry, the US government, and foreign entities.

"Improved SSA is essential to the well being of the global space community," Iridium said. "This event certainly points to the importance of SSA to the success of the commercial space industry, including the commercial and government customers served by Iridium. Iridium is committed to healthy cooperation between government, industry and the international community to improve the capabilities of SSA and to enhance the security of the space environment for all constituents."

FMI: www.iridium.com