With the launch of a Delta rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in
California last week, the Iridium constellation of communications satellites was
completed. Mobile phones that use the new network will work anywhere in the
world. Out of the 72 satellites that were launched, five have been lost due to a
variety of failures, from a thruster that used up all the fuel to a faulty
gyroscope. Two more had “minor glitches”, according to Iridium spokeswoman
Michelle Lyle, but will soon be working.
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