Iridium Finishes CATR Testing for Next Constellation

Iridium finished testing its compact antenna test range for its Next satellites, it said in a Wednesday news release. The testing marks the first time that a full Iridium Next payload has been powered on in both the L-band and Ka-band and is a major milestone in ensuring satellite functionality in advance of the Next network of 66 satellites being launched, Iridium said. The first satellites in the global broadband network are expected to go up later this year.