Iridium Launches Latest 10 NEXT Satellites
Iridium has launched 10 of its Iridium NEXT satellites US aboard a SpaceX rocket launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. This payload of 10 satellites was deployed into low-Earth orbit, approximately one hour after a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Vandenberg, at 1:25pm PDT (20:25 UTC). With this launch complete, there are now 20 Iridium NEXT satellites in orbit, establishing the infrastructure for groundbreaking technologies such as Iridium Certus and Aireon's space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) aircraft tracking and surveillance service. Iridium Certus is poised to disrupt industry norms by enabling truly global L-band satellite broadband speeds through smaller, more cost-effective antennas.
Gulf O&G Tech Collaboration Debated
More than 30 oil and gas organisztions in the Middle East will gather to discuss the opportunities and challenges of collaborating on technology development in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council). The event, organised by ITF, the technology facilitator for the global oil and gas industry and sponsored by Kuwait Oil Company, will take place in Abu Dhabi on Monday February 27. ITF, a membership organization of international oil and gas operator and service companies, is encouraging companies in the GCC to focus on the need for collaborative oil and gas technology funding and agree commitment to drive forward with a strategy for the region. Neil Poxon, managing director of ITF will outline the benefits of driving new groundbreaking technologies through joint industry projects.
