Expected to begin launching in 2014, Iridium NEXT extends and enhances Iridium mobile communications services and opens up new business and Earth observation opportunities for commercial and government customers and partners.
Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. and Thales Alenia Space have agreed to work jointly on the next-generation satellite constellation Iridium NEXT program. Ball Aerospace's possible roles and responsibilities include assembly, integration, and test. Ball Aerospace will process as many as four spacecraft at one time through its Boulder, CO-based satellite production facility. Additionally, Ball Aerospace will advise Thales Alenia Space on possible hosted secondary payload opportunities to serve the needs of a variety of defense and civil missions.
