Iridium Satellite
Selects Three Finalists To Design And Develop Iridium 'NEXT'
(19 March 2008) Iridium Satellite is
pleased to announce it has reached agreement with three companies to enter into
the concept development phase in its design and development procurement process
for "NEXT," the company's next-generation satellite
constellation.
Over the next five months, Lockheed Martin, Space
Systems Loral and Thales Alenia Space will develop design concepts, review
critical engineering trades and evaluate performance and capabilities required
for NEXT along with the costs to manufacture and launch the
system.
Based on these findings, Iridium plans to select two candidates
to undertake the detailed system development phase of the procurement
process.
"We are pleased to have these major industry players as
potential partners in our NEXT development," said Lee Demitry, executive vice
president, Iridium NEXT, Iridium Satellite. "We would like to thank all the
participants for their interest and their efforts in helping us make this first
critical decision."
"Industry response has been phenomenal," stated Matt
Desch, chairman and CEO, Iridium Satellite. "We're one step closer to launching
our new constellation along with exciting new services for our
customers."
This past summer, Iridium released a NEXT Request for
Information (RFI) for design, development and deployment of the network and
over 60 companies replied. From that RFI, six candidates were identified who
have demonstrated the capabilities to meet the technical, operational and
commercial requirements of NEXT. Of those six, Iridium narrowed the field to
these three companies.
Last year at Satellite '07, Iridium unveiled its
plans for NEXT and continues to make significant strides with its timeline and
goals for the program. The response from companies vying for a role as a prime
contractor or a supplier for this critical initiative has been overwhelming and
the support from existing and prospective customers, potential investors and
the market at large has been extremely enthusiastic. Based on analysis,
industry feedback and progress to date, Iridium expects the 2013 launch date to
be very achievable.
Today's Iridium constellation is the only mobile
satellite service (MSS) covering the entire Earth, with no service gaps,
providing voice and data communications for a wide range of users world-wide.
NEXT will maintain Iridium's unique "lifeline" attributes which so many Iridium
customers count on -- pole-to-pole coverage, security, availability and
reliability.
Through NEXT, Iridium plans to offer a flexible array of
services, from high-bandwidth data to voice and short messaging services,
enabling new applications for commercial and government users. NEXT will
feature an IP- based architecture. This will leverage broad-based technology
enhancements from the industry, enable customers to integrate applications
efficiently into NEXT, and ensure upgrading flexibility. Iridium will also
engineer the network to support communications with other space-based assets.
Finally, NEXT will maintain the company's unique and all-important cross-linked
satellite architecture.
About Iridium Satellite
Iridium Satellite
LLC is the only MSS offering gap-free, pole-to-pole coverage over the entire
globe. Iridium's constellation of 66 low-earth orbiting (LEO), cross-linked
satellites (and multiple in-orbit spares) provides critical voice and data
services for regions not served by other communication networks. Driven by
increasing demand for reliable, secure, global, mobile satellite links, Iridium
has been steadily growing at a double-digit annual rate since 2004. Iridium
serves commercial markets through a world-wide network of more than 150
partners, and also provides services to the U.S. Department of Defense, and
other U.S. and international government agencies. The company's customers
represent a broad spectrum of industry, including maritime, aeronautical,
government/defence, public safety, utilities, oil/gas, mining, forestry, heavy
equipment and transportation. Iridium has launched a major development program
for its next-generation satellite constellation, called "NEXT," through which
it will enable satellite-based innovations beyond communications. The company
is headquartered in Bethesda, Md. and is privately held.
About Lockheed
Martin
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, a major operating unit of
Lockheed Martin Corporation, designs, develops, tests, manufactures and
operates a full spectrum of advanced-technology systems for national security,
civil and commercial customers. Chief products include human space flight
systems; a full range of remote sensing, navigation, meteorological and
communications satellites and instruments; space observatories and
interplanetary spacecraft; laser radar; fleet ballistic missiles; and missile
defence systems.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs
about 140,000 people world-wide and is principally engaged in the research,
design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced
technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2007 sales
of US$ 41.9 billion.
About Loral Space & Communications
Loral
Space & Communications is a satellite communications company. Through its
Space Systems/Loral subsidiary, the company is a world-class leader in the
design and manufacture of satellites and satellite systems for commercial and
government applications including direct-to-home television, broadband
communications, wireless telephony, weather monitoring and air traffic
management. Loral also owns 64 percent of Telesat Canada, one of the world's
largest providers of satellite services. Telesat Canada operates a fleet of
telecommunications satellites used to broadcast video entertainment
programming, distribute direct-to-home video and broadband data services, and
other value-added communications services.
About Thales Alenia
Space
As a European leader in satellite systems at the forefront of
orbital infrastructures, Thales Alenia Space is a joint venture between Thales
(67 percent) and Finmeccanica (33 percent). Together with Telespazio, Thales
Alenia Space forms the "Space Alliance" between the two groups. The company is
a world-wide reference in telecoms, radar and optical Earth observation,
defence and security, navigation and science. With 7,200 employees and 11
industrial sites, Thales Alenia Space is located in France, Italy, Spain and
Belgium.
(source: Iridium Satellite)
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