Iridium Communications (NASDAQ: IRDM) has launched a turnkey program intended to provide customers new hosted payload opportunities for space missions.
The Prime initiative seeks to offer customers a suite of launch, ground infrastructure, high-speed inter-satellite links, two-way payload control and global coverage services, Iridium said Monday.
David Anhalt, a retired Air Force colonel, will serve as vice president and general manager of Iridium PRIME.
Matt Desch, Iridium’s CEO, said the company is leveraging its $3 billion investment in the Iridium NEXT constellation to launch the Prime Service and open space-base offerings to new customers.
“We anticipate significant hosting and data services revenue for Iridium over the next 15 to 20 years, ” Desch added.
Iridium Prime is intended to have 66 additional hosted payload satellites that are similar in design to NEXT satellites.
The satellite platform could host payloads for missions such as earth observation, weather monitoring and telecommunications.
Aireon LLC provides aircraft surveillance technology on the NEXT satellite and Harris Corp. (NYSE: HRS) makes the auxilliary payloads.
