Editing Iridium Communications (section)

=== Iridium NEXT launch campaign ===

Iridium replaced its original constellation by sending 75 new Iridium satellites into space on [[SpaceX Falcon 9]] rockets in a series of 8 launches. The campaign also consisted of upgrades to Iridium ground infrastructure.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mathison |first=Mike |date=2016-09-14 |title=Iridium's Ground Infrastructure |url=https://apollosat.com/iridium-networks-ground-infrastructure/ |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=Apollo Satellite |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-01-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110064553/https://apollosat.com/iridium-networks-ground-infrastructure/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[Iridium NEXT]] launch campaign was announced in 2007. Within three years, Iridium completed financing and began work on launching new satellites.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Iridium Completes Historic Satellite Launch Campaign |url=https://investor.iridium.com/2019-01-11-Iridium-Completes-Historic-Satellite-Launch-Campaign |access-date=2022-07-19 |website=Iridium Satellite Communications |language=en-US}}</ref> In June 2010, Iridium announced a fixed-price contract with [[Thales Alenia Space]] for the design and construction of the next-generation satellites for the upgraded constellation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://investor.iridium.com/2010-06-02-Iridium-Announces-Comprehensive-Plan-For-Next-Generation-Constellation |title=Iridium Satellite Communications – Press Releases |publisher=Investor.iridium.com |access-date=2019-07-04}}</ref> Two weeks later, Iridium announced a $492 million contract designating the [[Falcon 9]] as a major provider of launch services for the Iridium NEXT campaign, becoming the largest single commercial launch deal ever signed (simultaneously representing a benchmark in cost-effective satellite delivery to space).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://investor.iridium.com/june-16-2010-iridium-and-spacex-sign-major-commercial-launch-contract |title=Iridium Satellite Communications – Press Releases |publisher=Investor.iridium.com |date=2010-06-16 |access-date=2019-07-04}}</ref>

On January 14, 2017, 10 years after the campaign was first announced, the first of eight Iridium NEXT launches took place with [[SpaceX]] from [[Vandenberg Air Force Base]] in California.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://investor.iridium.com/january-14-2017-iridium-announces-successful-first-launch-of-iridium-next-satellites |title=Iridium Satellite Communications – Press Releases |publisher=Investor.iridium.com |access-date=2019-07-04}}</ref> Over the next two years, Iridium sent an additional 65 satellites into low Earth orbit to completely replace the original satellite constellation. The final [[Iridium NEXT]] launch took place on January 11, 2019, less than two years after the first launch.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://investor.iridium.com/2019-01-11-Iridium-Completes-Historic-Satellite-Launch-Campaign |title=Iridium Completes Historic Satellite Launch Campaign – Jan 11, 2019 |publisher=Investor.iridium.com |access-date=2019-07-04}}</ref>

The [[Iridium NEXT]] network covers the entire [[Earth]], including poles, oceans and airways, with 66 satellites, with the remaining nine acting as active backups, for a total of 75 launched.<ref name=":1" /> Six remain on the ground as spares for a total of 81 built.<ref>{{Cite web|date=|title=Iridium Coverage|url=https://www.satmodo.com/coverage/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116114848/http://satmodo.com/coverage/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 16, 2012|access-date=2021-05-12|website=Satmodo|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Dwyer |first=Rob |date=2022-09-08 |title=Iridium to launch ground spare satellites to supplement network |url=https://smartmaritimenetwork.com/2022/09/08/iridium-to-launch-ground-spare-satellites-to-supplement-satellite-network/ |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=Smart Maritime Network |language=en-GB}}</ref>