11 January when the final batch of 10 Iridium NEXT satellites were successfully deployed into orbit by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Rounding out the launch campaign might have seemed like the end.

The eighth and final Iridium NEXT launch – that was conducted on Friday – will bring to fruition a near 12-year campaign to replace and upgrade the Iridium communications network in Earth orbit.

Iridium Communications Inc. IRDM has announced the service launch of the Iridium Certus Global ... total Service revenues rose 5% year over year to $159.9 million, driven by strong recurring ...

announced today an updated launch date for the seventh Iridium ® NEXT launch and as a result, a revised date for its second-quarter 2018 earnings call. The Iridium-7 mission is now targeting July ...