[EAS]Iridium Reprieved

[pjk]

Subject:   Iridium Reprieved

Dear Colleagues -

Back in April I commented on the sad state of the Iridium
communications system, splendid technology (on-satellite signal
processing and inter-satellite crosslinks allowing satellite-mode
service to any open area on earth) but as a business model about to
go down in flames.

http://www.yale.edu/engineering/eng-info/msg00701.html

The system has now been reprieved by a contract for satellite
communications services awarded by DoD's Defense Information
Systems Agency

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Dec2000/b12062000_bt729-00.html

because it can provide "provides mobile, cryptographically secure
telephone services to small handsets anywhere on the globe,
pole-to-pole, 24 hours a day." This also relieves worries about
predictably burning up 88 giant satellites over uninhabited areas.

   --PJK