Ever get the scoop on tham thar Irridium satellites?

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), September 13, 1999

Answers

On paper it's a great idea. But putting the plan into place has driven the Iridium consortium into bankruptcy before satellite one got into orbit. Although I do think one was on the way up to space, but it blew up (something about cheap boosters).

Aviation Week & Space Technology ran an article on the Iridium problems last week, and it looks like they're looking for a white knight with deep pockets. But Bill Gates and Motorola are part of competing efforts. So I personally don't look for Iridium to be much more than a footnote in the history of space-based communication.

And if there is no Iridium, there is not "blanket of radio signals" by the Iridium satellites, which ws one of the public concerns about the system.

WW

-- Wildweasel (vtmldm@epix.net), September 13, 1999.