Aireon has announced the seventh successful launch and deployment of the firm's space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) payloads, hosted by the Iridium® NEXT satellite constellation.
At 04:39:30 AM PDT (11:39:30 UTC), a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California and placed 10 new Iridium NEXT satellites into LEO, bringing the total number of Aireon payloads in orbit to 65. A single launch of 10 more Iridium NEXT satellites remains, complete with their Aireon payloads, before the launch campaign concludes later this year. The Aireon system is scheduled to go live in 2018 with operational deployment beginning shortly after that domestically in the Edmonton and Gander Flight Information Regions. Operational trials in oceanic airspace over the North Atlantic will begin in early 2019.
Aireon's Global Space-Based ADS-B coverage.
Image is courtesy of Aireon.
According to the company, upon completion of the new network, the Aireon system will enable never-before possible capabilities for air navigation service providers (ANSPs), air traffic controllers, airline operators and industry stakeholders. Oceanic and remote airspace will, for the first time, have real-time air traffic surveillance, allowing further enhanced safety, as well as on-the-fly route adjustments, more direct flight paths and increased predictability.
The Iridium NEXT satellite constellation will consist of 66 LEO crosslinked satellites that blanket the earth with pole-to-pole coverage. When pairing the Aireon service with the real-time communications capabilities offered by Iridium, such as Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) or Iridium SATCOM Voice, pilots flying oceanic and remote routes will be in real-time contact with air traffic controllers enabling them to obtain route adjustments and maximizing the benefits of Aireon's air traffic surveillance. Iridium is the only satellite communications provider that covers the entire globe, ensuring that wherever an aircraft may fly, it will always remain in coverage with real-time communication. This capability has become increasingly important as airlines fly more routes over the North Pole, dramatically reducing flight time and fuel cost.
A total of 81 Iridium NEXT satellites are being built, all of which will have the Aireon payload onboard. Currently, 75 satellites are planned to be deployed with nine serving as on-orbit spares and the remaining six as ground spares. The constellation is planned for completion in 2018.
Executive Comments
Don Thoma, the CEO of Aireon, said that the company is getting closer to the finish line and the system has been functioning beyond expectation, resulting in even greater coverage redundancy than initially planned. Double coverage is being seen, and in many cases triple, redundancy from Aireon payloads before the constellation is even completed. With this seventh successful launch completed, the company is now preparing to start a new era for the aviation industry.
Matt Desch, the CEO of Iridium, noted that both companies share the same Iridium NEXT network, though they operate through separate payloads and on-board antennas, with Iridium using the main mission antenna and Aireon using their own custom-designed hosted payload. This combination creates a unique multi-purpose satellite network providing aircraft connectivity and surveillance with multiple built-in redundancies. No other pair of companies can come close to offering such revolutionary capabilities. All look forward to seeing the full constellation operational later this year and bringing all of these capabilities to life.
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