Today Iridium celebrates the 50th annual Earth Day and wanted to share some of the innovative ways that our network is being used to help support the planet we all call home. As the world’s only truly global satellite communications network, Iridium connects people, enterprises, governments, and things, while enabling unique solutions to solve challenges in ways never thought possible.
Iridium leverages our 450+ partners’ specialized knowledge and resources to deliver innovative solutions to users across a diverse set of industries around the globe. From scientific research buoys in the ocean, to animal tracking collars, our partners have utilized the Iridium network to solve problems with forward-thinking ingenuity.
Here are just a few examples of the dozens of unique applications the Iridium network is enabling:
Wildlife Protection
The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is transforming the study and protection of endangered species around the globe through its innovative Instant Wild program, enabled by the Iridium global network. Using Iridium technology, they developed their Instant Detect system that can capture data remotely and transmit it in near real time from any part of the world to monitor rare species and help prevent poaching.
The South Rift Association of Landowners (SORALO) in Kenya use Iridium Push-To-Talk (PTT) radios so rangers are able to monitor wildlife predators and share information on their movements with local livestock herders. This way, the rangers can guide herders to safe places to graze, for the benefit of everyone involved, including the wild animals, the livestock and the herders. The use of Iridium PTT has improved the management of natural resources and coordination of anti-poaching work in the region.
Animal tracking collars enabled by the Iridium network are used to remotely obtain location and other data from terrestrial animals anywhere in the world. At Scotia Wildlife Sanctuary in western New South Wales, The Australia Wildlife Conservancy uses this technology to study the behavior of feral cats.
Remote Monitoring
The Ocean Cleanup utilizes the Iridium network to help rid the oceans of plastic. The effort uses a system of 600-meter-long floating plastic collectors, each equipped with two Iridium broadband terminals that relay critical systems data including compartment flood detection, position and location information, pictures, 360-degree video and system performance information.
Marine Instruments helps prevent shark attacks with baited buoys that immediately communicate a shark’s position via the Iridium satellite network so that environmentalists capture the shark and humanely transport it away from the shore. Previous anti-shark buoys have deployed mesh nets when a shark appears, but nets are not selective and often end up hurting sea turtles and other protected wildlife. The Marine Instruments buoys provide scientists with key information about shark behavior to aid in their efforts to reduce attacks.”
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Iridium’s hosted payload allows the Aireon® system to provide complete real-time surveillance of all Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) equipped aircraft in their airspace, enabling airlines to optimize flight paths, routes and tracks anywhere in the world. This not only improves operational efficiency, but also reduces fuel consumption and lowers greenhouse gas emissions.
Iridium partner ZUNIBAL created a buoy using Iridium technology that allows captains to gain invaluable information on the best tuna fishing locations, reducing fuel costs for the owner and the number of days at sea for the crew. The buoys are certified in eco design, highlighting our partner’s commitment to sustainable fishing and to reducing the environmental impact of the buoys on our oceans.
At Iridium, we are passionate about STEM education and are committed to supporting the next generation of innovators. With the added ‘A’ for Arts, STEAM education emphasizes that all skillsets are needed in the space and satellite industry, and there’s *space* for everyone.
Given the unprecedented situation we are facing in light of the COVID-19 outbreak, this year, Iridium is celebrating Bring Your Child to Work Day virtually (after all, it is how most of us are working these days)…and we encourage you to celebrate with us!
Since children are also now learning remotely, we’ve put together Iridium-inspired activity and coloring books for Pre-K through 5th grade age groups, however it’s certainly not limited or exclusive to them! Whether they’re interested in science, technology, engineering, arts or mathematics, there is something here for everyone.
Who knows…maybe one day they’ll end up working at Iridium!
Click the images above to download the workbook for your child’s age group.
Iridium® Partner IEC Telecom Supports The IK Foundation to Deploy Autonomous Monitoring Station in the Remote Arctic
One of a few places on Earth to retain an unaltered wild landscape, Prins Karls Forland, an island off the West coast of Svalbard, was an untapped scientific resource. This was largely because of its inaccessibility and government regulations that only allow scientists to explore the island for 10 days out of the year. In order to achieve reliable connectivity for long periods of time without human intervention, The IK Foundation partnered with IEC Telecom to use a Thales MissionLINK™ terminal powered by Iridium Certus®.
The terminal was the ideal solution for the environment because it is easy to install and doesn’t require constant maintenance. The Field Station now consistently uses the terminal to transmit and disseminate raw scientific data several times a day to researchers across the globe.
The Thales MissionLINK™ powered by Iridium Certus® can operate in cold and damp conditions and withstand severe snow and ice. PHOTO: Lars Hansen | Bridge Builder Expeditions Spitsbergen, Voyage IV.A, 2019.
“This collaborative effort exhibits the endless possibilities that the world’s only truly global broadband service can enable,” says Iridium Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Bryan Hartin. “We are proud of our partner IEC Telecom for supporting The IK Foundation and utilizing Iridium Certus technology to help gather important environmental data.”
Since installation in May 2019, the Field Station has already produced staggering amounts of raw biological data, helping to bolster scientific research. Iridium Certus will continue to be a critical part of the Field Station and The IK Foundation’s approach to gathering and sharing observation data and increasing scientific engagement worldwide.
Equipped with Iridium Certus®, the Argentine Navy’s Fortuna III Yacht Finished First Place at the XXVI Oceanic Regatta Buenos Aires – Rio de Janeiro 2020
Iridium partner Globalsat successfully carried out the first Iridium Certus installation for the Argentine Navy, in support of their entrant to the XXIV Oceanic Regatta Buenos Aires – Rio de Janeiro. Equipped with a Thales VesseLINK™ terminal featuring the Iridium Certus 700 service, Argentine Navy regatta yacht Fortuna III finished in first place in its category.
Globalsat Argentina provided the necessary assistance to the Fortuna III crew members enabling them to take full advantage of Iridium Certus’ capabilities. Utilizing the fastest L-band speeds in the industry, the crew of the Fortuna III accessed data connections up to 704 kbps in support of meteorological applications, nautical chart updates, sharing pictures and video, and maintaining permanent communication for mission success and safety.
The Argentine Navy’s Luis Sgrilletti, Captain and Commander of Fortuna III was particularly impressed by the “surprising speed” at which the team was able to access the information.
“Being able to visualize, in the context of a competition, constant and real-time updates of meteorological information, nautical charts and positions of the other competitors was decisive for the achievement of the result we obtained,” said Sgrilletti.
“With the newly upgraded Iridium Certus 700 service, the crew of the Fortuna III had access to the fastest weather resilient L-band connectivity the maritime industry has ever known,” says Iridium Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Bryan Hartin. “We are proud of our partner Globalsat for supporting the Argentine Navy, ensuring the Fortuna III crew’s safety and helping them achieve victory.”
