SpaceX just concluded 2017 by launching 10 Iridium NEXT satellites. A footnote on the launch was the “hosted payload” on board each of the satellites: a small box of equipment from Aireon.

Desch noted that Iridium remains the preferred companion service for maritime broadband, supported by its GMDSS-certified terminals. Walter Piecyk, LightShed Ventures: Asked about Aireon’s future.

Thales is one of the partner companies that built the satellites for the Iridium NEXT fleet, which has 66 operational satellites in Low Earth Orbit. The Iridium Certus service uses its L-Band (1.6 ...