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Iridium Asks for Additional Life for First-Generation Constellation

Iridium wants an OK to extend the lifespan of its first-generation satellite constellation so it has enough time for its Next constellation to become fully operational. In an FCC International Bureau filing Monday, the company asked that the license term…

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be extended by 18 months, until July 31, 2019. It said delays in the initial Next launch -- which happened in January (see 1701060064) -- required altering the schedule for the constellation's full deployment. The company asked for approval to continue to use a storage orbit for first-generation satellites to act as spares and to maneuver satellites in the spare and operational orbits as needed to continue providing service.