The first three of Motorola's Iridium satellites were scheduled to be launched by a McDonnell Douglas Delta 2 from Vandenberg AFB, California, on 10 January. A total of 66 operational satellites to be launched into low-Earth-orbit constellations by 1999 will provide the world's first global telecommunications network, providing a worldwide wireless services to hand-held telephones and pagers. The $2.65 billion Iridium programme will be in competition with Loral's Globalstar and the Inmarsat ICO systems and, possibly, with TRW's proposed Odyssey (Flight International, 4-10 October, 1995).
Source: Flight International
