Iridium launches 10 flight-tracking satellites
Iridium Communications has launched 10 next-generation satellites that will be used for real-time flight tracking, giving air traffic controllers radar-like position data across 100% of their airspace. “This means no more vanishing planes like MH370, which disappeared over the Indian Ocean in 2014 and became one of the most expensive aviation searches in history. Seventy percent of the world is uncovered by radar, with pilots typically reporting their positions every 10-14 minutes. That’s about to change,” Iridium said. Under the program, Iridium is swapping out 66 aging interconnected, low-Earth orbit satellites with new ones. Aireon’s space-based automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B), which provides real-time tracking and surveillance of all ADS-B equipped aircraft globally, is one of the new satellite functions. <br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2017-10-10/general/iridium-launches-10-flight-tracking-satellites
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Iridium launches 10 flight-tracking satellites
Iridium Communications has launched 10 next-generation satellites that will be used for real-time flight tracking, giving air traffic controllers radar-like position data across 100% of their airspace. “This means no more vanishing planes like MH370, which disappeared over the Indian Ocean in 2014 and became one of the most expensive aviation searches in history. Seventy percent of the world is uncovered by radar, with pilots typically reporting their positions every 10-14 minutes. That’s about to change,” Iridium said. Under the program, Iridium is swapping out 66 aging interconnected, low-Earth orbit satellites with new ones. Aireon’s space-based automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B), which provides real-time tracking and surveillance of all ADS-B equipped aircraft globally, is one of the new satellite functions. <br/>
