Iridium Completes Next Constellation Launches; Aireon Says ADS-B Service Starts Soon

The final 10 satellites of Iridium's Next broadband satellite constellation were launched into orbit Friday from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the company said. It said 75 of the 81 Next satellites being built have been launched, with nine of those to be in-orbit spares, and the remaining six unlaunched satellites to be ground spares. Aireon said having 75 of its hosted payloads in orbit on the Next satellites was one of the last remaining hurdles before it begins its satellite-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast aircraft surveillance service within weeks.