Scott Smith

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  • Scott Smith: Iridium NEXT Platform Software Completes Tests Ahead of Launch - top government contractors - best government contracting event
    in C4ISR News, News

    Scott Smith: Iridium NEXT Platform Software Completes Tests Ahead of Launch

    Iridium Communications has completed the initial test phase on the primary functions of the Thales Alenia Space-developed Iridium NEXT platform software ahead of the first satellite launch this year. Iridium said Tuesday this testing phase is the first of a series of tests on the platform software’s systems integration and other functions to check Iridium NEXT’s operational autonomy. “Completion […] More

  • Iridium Caps Tests on New NEXT Satellite Solar Panel Design; Scott Smith Comments - top government contractors - best government contracting event
    in News, Products & Service

    Iridium Caps Tests on New NEXT Satellite Solar Panel Design; Scott Smith Comments

    Iridium Communications has completed a series qualification tests on a new design Spectrolab and Mitsubishi Electric developed for the solar panel arrays that will be fitted to the Iridium NEXT satellites. Iridium said Tuesday the design consists of four panels that span approximately 30 feet and generate at least 2 kilowatts of power via triple-junction solar cells. Scott Smith, Iridium chief operating […] More

  • Scott Smith: Iridium, Boeing, L-3 Finish Work on NEXT Satellite Control Infrastructure - top government contractors - best government contracting event
    in Industry News, News

    Scott Smith: Iridium, Boeing, L-3 Finish Work on NEXT Satellite Control Infrastructure

    Iridium Communications worked with Boeing and L-3 Communications to build the system control segment for Iridium’s NEXT satellite and a facility for managing after-launch and early-orbit satellite operations. The NEXT control segment is designed with L-3 Telemetry-West‘s InControl software that will work to manage command and control of the satellite constellation, Iridium said Wednesday. Boeing […] More

  • Scott Smith: Iridium to Test Compatibility of 1st Satellite Model With NEXT Network - top government contractors - best government contracting event
    in C4ISR News, News

    Scott Smith: Iridium to Test Compatibility of 1st Satellite Model With NEXT Network

    Iridium Communications will conduct compatibility tests on the first satellite engineering model for the Iridium NEXT satellite constellation following its delivery to the company’s technical support center. The company said Monday the model will be integrated into the Iridium Satellite Control System to demonstrate its features and check its compatibility with the constellation. “We are very excited about […] More

  • Scott Smith: Iridium to Use Radisys Servers for NEXT Satcom Ground Network - top government contractors - best government contracting event
    in Industry News, News

    Scott Smith: Iridium to Use Radisys Servers for NEXT Satcom Ground Network

    Iridium Communications has selected a Radisys telecommunication-grade appliance to manage ground system applications for Iridium’s NEXT satellite constellation. Radisys’ T-Series virtualized platform will work to help Iridium run multiple operational support apps on the satellite operator’s ground infrastructure, Radisys said Wednesday. The system is built with an advanced telecommunications computing architecture, silicon technology and open-source […] More

  • Scott Smith: Iridium to Begin High-Volume Production of NEXT Antennas - top government contractors - best government contracting event
    in C4ISR News, News

    Scott Smith: Iridium to Begin High-Volume Production of NEXT Antennas

    Iridium Communications is set to produce antennas for the NEXT constellation in large volumes following completion of the first five flight main mission antennas. Thales Alenia Space built the antennas to handle the transmission of data between Iridium customer devices, Iridium Communications said Monday. “The main mission antennas are a critical component of each satellite, and […] More

  • Scott Smith: Iridium NEXT Test Call Moves Launch Preparations Forward - top government contractors - best government contracting event
    in C4ISR News, News

    Scott Smith: Iridium NEXT Test Call Moves Launch Preparations Forward

    Iridium Communications and Thales Alenia Space have completed a test call of the L-band hardware and associated software for the Iridium NEXT constellation, demonstrating end-to-end call flow through satellite, ground and public switched telephone networks. Iridium said Tuesday the milestone validates the Iridium NEXT system’s capabilities for satellite communications as the companies prepare for the first launch next year. “Placing […] More

  • Scott Smith: Iridium NEXT Satellite Dispenser Passed Qualification Tests - top government contractors - best government contracting event
    in C4ISR News, News

    Scott Smith: Iridium NEXT Satellite Dispenser Passed Qualification Tests

    Iridium Communications and SpaceX have completed qualification tests for the dispenser assembly of the Iridium NEXT satellite. The satellite dispenser underwent fit check, separation and shock testing, a modal survey and static loads tests, Iridium said Thursday. “The dispenser passed its system level qualification tests with flying colors, and we’re now moving forward with launch preparations,” […] More

  • Scott Smith: Iridium Readies Ground Station Infrastructure Ahead of 2015 NEXT Launch - top government contractors - best government contracting event
    in Industry News, News

    Scott Smith: Iridium Readies Ground Station Infrastructure Ahead of 2015 NEXT Launch

    Iridium Communications has modernized its ground network months prior to its scheduled launch of a new satellite into low-Earth orbit in 2015. The company replaced the hardware and software systems of five ground stations and 21 antennas worldwide in order for the network to connect with the NEXT satellite constellation, Iridium said Monday. Scott Smith, chief […] More

  • Orbital Starts to Integrate Iridium NEXT Satellites; Scott Smith Comments - top government contractors - best government contracting event
    in Industry News, News

    Orbital Starts to Integrate Iridium NEXT Satellites; Scott Smith Comments

    Orbital Sciences has begun to integrate payloads for Iridium Communications‘ NEXT satellite constellation at an Orbital-run facility in Gilbert, Az. Orbital is responsible for assembling and testing NEXT low-earth-orbit satellites under an agreement signed with Thales Alenia Space, the project’s prime contractor, Orbital said Thursday. Under that contract, Orbital will deliver 66 satellite platforms, nine […] More

  • SpaceX to Test Thales-Built Simulators for Iridium NEXT Satellites; Scott Smith Comments - top government contractors - best government contracting event
    in Industry News, News

    SpaceX to Test Thales-Built Simulators for Iridium NEXT Satellites; Scott Smith Comments

    Thales Alenia Space has developed simulation systems that will be used by Space Exploration Technologies Corp. in the testing phase of communications satellites for Iridium Communications‘ next-generation constellation. SpaceX was chosen to help launch Iridium NEXT satellites into space with a Falcon9 rocket under a $453.1 million contract between both companies, Iridium said Tuesday. “With […] More