“IRIDIUM: PAST – PRESENT and NEXT: The Future of Global Communications”
AZ Chapter meeting in Phoenix on March 23
In a world where global communications on land, at sea and in the skies are increasingly critical, Iridium operates the world’s largest commercial constellation, with a mesh architecture of 66 cross-linked Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites plus spares. The Iridium NEXT project augments the original system capability.
Despite overwhelming odds the Iridium team threw away virtually every standard practice in the space industry, created new models for manufacturing and mega-project management, produced a satellite a week, put 72 satellites in orbit in 13 months and completed the $5B system on schedule and on budget.
Please join us on March 23 (a change from our normal meeting date), 7:30-9:00am, when Durrell Hillis, (Ret) Senior Vice President and General Manager, Motorola’s Systems Solutions Group (SSG), and author of “The Creation of Iridium” will share his thoughts and passion documenting the creativity, hard work, and dogged determination by a talented team of Motorola employees working in the Arizona desert to launch the world’s first global satellite phone system resulting in one of the great technological achievements of our time.
In addition, David Cubbage, Senior Member of the Technical Staff, Iridium NEXT Satellite Production, will provide insight into the Iridium Next program that is replacing the original Iridium constellation after a system lifetime lasting more than10 years beyond the expected. This larger Iridium® ecosystem includes over 300 value-added partners who leverage the company’s unique network to manufacture, develop, market and support innovative applications for a variety of different markets and industries.
Join us and learn how you can be part of and contribute towards enhancing the global communications network.
The meeting is free for members ($30 for non-members until March 16, $40 thereafter). For more information and to register to attend the meeting, go to http://adfazmar18.eventbrite.com.
Click here for more information about and to join The Aerospace & Defense Forum.
The Arizona Chapter of The A&D Forum is sponsored by Moss Adams and National Bank of Arizona.
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