An ILS International Launch Services Proton booster was launched from Baikonur on 4 November carrying the PanAmSat 8 communications satellite into orbit. It was followed by a Boeing Delta II, from Vandenberg AFB, California, on 6 November, carrying five more Motorola Iridium satellites. The five Iridium satellites comprise one replacement for a malfunctioning spacecraft and four in-orbit spares.
Iridium declared its worldwide mobile telephone satellite communications system operational on 1 November.
Telecommunications analyst Ovum, however, says that the Iridium, and competitive Globalstar and Inmarsat affiliate ICO systems, will face a gradually shrinking market as alternative services, including the WorldPhone, which will be compatible with all mobile networks, become available as early as 2004.
The second Boeing Delta III will be launched early in 1999 with a new software package in its guidance system to handle the unexpected 4Hz roll instability experienced by the first Delta III from lift-off, which set in motion a chain of events leading to the loss of the launch on 26 August.
Source: Flight International
