Iridium Communications is investigating the potential of small satellites to demonstrate cutting-edge Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) technologies. CEO Matt Desch revealed this exploration during the Smallsat Symposium in Silicon Valley on February 4th. “Maybe we need to be in the smallsat business for a while,” Desch pondered, “even in just an experimental stage [putting up] a few satellites.”
This initiative also aims to enhance pilot communications through a very high-frequency (VHF) radio system developed in collaboration with Aireon, a company already leveraging Iridium's satellite network for aircraft surveillance. Iridium currently operates 66 Iridium Next spacecraft in low Earth orbit (LEO) for L-band connectivity, supplemented by spares. An engineering assessment last year indicates the current constellation will remain operational until at least 2035. “The nice thing is we don’t have to invest a lot of money for a while,” Desch noted.
Iridium Next satellites, weighing approximately 860 kilograms, are considerably larger than the small satellites commonly used for LEO communications (typically ranging from a few dozen to a few hundred kilograms). While smaller satellites offer faster, more cost-effective deployment, Iridium’s larger satellites are built for longevity, supporting its global, interconnected network. However, Desch clarified that plans for deploying spacecraft before the successor to Iridium Next are still in their infancy. “No new constellations at this point,” he confirmed via email.