IRIDIUM 106

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IRIDIUM 106 is classified as:

Iridium

NORAD ID: 41917

Int'l Code: 2017-003A

Launch date: January 14, 2017
Source: United States (US)
Launch site: AIR FORCE WESTERN TEST RANGE (AFWTR)

IRIDIUM 106 is one of the 10 'Iridium Next' satellites launched on January 14, 2017 designed by Thales Alenia Space in France, and then assembled and tested in an assembly line fashion in partnership with Orbital ATK in Arizona. Sixty-six are needed to fully replace Iridium's current constellation, and Iridium ordered 15 more as spares. The upgraded network will offer faster broadband connections, improved functionality and 3G-equivalent cellular phone services for Iridium's pool of nearly 850,000 subscribers, a client list that includes the U.S. military, oil and gas companies, aviation and maritime operators, and mining and construction contractors. All of the upgraded satellites also carry piggyback payloads for Aireon, an affiliate of Iridium, to help air traffic controllers track airplane movements worldwide. Four of the Iridium Next satellites launched Saturday host an antenna to monitor maritime traffic for exactEarth, a Canadian company, and Harris Corp. of Melbourne, Florida.