In July of 2021, Travis Ludlow broke the Guinness World Record to become the youngest person to fly solo around the world in a single-engine aircraft at the age of 18 (and 149 days). This was not an easy feat ā Travis spent many hours practicing and preparing for this adventure, which was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Ā
During his flight, Travis relied on Iridium satellite devices and real-time aircraft tracking from partner Spidertracks to ensure he stayed safe and connected. Check out this conversation with Travis and Dan Mercer, Iridiumās Vice President and General Manager, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Russia to learn more about Travisā journey!
Congratulations on all your success throughout your career! How long have you been working at Iridium?Ā
I started working on Iridium in September of 1997, and with the exception of about 2-3 years, I have been with Iridium ever since!
So, you returned to Iridium after leaving for a brief period of time? What led you back to the company?
Iridium was the first job I had after graduating from college. When I left to explore positions at other companies, it took leaving for me to realize how truly special Iridium is. Both in terms of employee empowerment to make meaningful changes and in the work environment. So, after leaving, I came back to Iridium the first time an opportunity presented itself.
You have accomplished so much over the years and are now the Mission Operations Manager for Iridium. Could you tell us a bit more about your position?
As the Mission Operations Manager, affectionately referred to as āMOM,ā I am responsible for ensuring that the Real Time Operations team ā which is the team responsible for the 24×7 operations of the Iridium satellite network ā has the training, software, procedures, processes and pretty much anything else they need to ensure they can execute the mission to the highest standards.
What are some of your favorite moments from working at Iridium?
Two moments that stand out the most in my mind are both related to the Iridium satellite launches. The first moment was in 2002, when I was part of a very small team responsible for the launch and early orbit operations of the IS-1 launch mission, which put 5 Iridium satellites into orbit. That was a moment early on in my career where I was given a great responsibility and worked for almost 2 years planning for that launch. The moment where we were able to successfully establish communications with all 5 satellites was one of my proudest. Similarly, working for 5 years so closely with Iridium and Thales engineers in preparation for the Iridium NEXT launches, and to then replace the entire constellation successfully without a hitch, was also truly amazing.
Were there any challenges you faced in your career and how did you overcome them?
Being a project for this many years, there were of course many technical challenges which we had to overcome, but the challenge I would like to highlight is a personal one ā To be able to remain engaged and excited about coming into work every day for 20+ years. My personality is that I need to personally feel challenged to remain engaged and productive. This was easy to do because of the 2 very important aspects of Iridiumās work culture. First, the work environment is not static. Itās constantly evolving to support new business initiatives, as well as through individual efforts to always make things better, faster and more efficient. Second, Iridium has a strong history of giving opportunities to employees to take on different roles. Over my 20 years at Iridium, I have worn about 8 different hats, which gave me the chance to take on new and exciting responsibilities.
Do you have any advice for someone that may want to follow in your footsteps and work at a company like Iridium?Ā
Iridium is one of those increasingly rare companies where you can have a full career, and not just a job. That being said, you will get out of it what you put into it. My advice is twofold ā
First off, recognize that you can introduce changes no matter what your role is in the company. Always think about how we can be doing things differently and making them better (faster/cheaper/more efficient). Additionally, always take the opportunity learn about parts of the business, operations and company which are not necessarily related to your current role. If you do these things, you can have a fantastic career at Iridium, as you will find āthe next thingā will naturally present itself.Ā
Congratulations on your recent successful completion of the āimpossible routeā through Death Valley! Can you tell us more about what inspired you to create Impossible Routes?
Thank you! The Impossible Route concept was a natural extension of my wish to test the limits as a competitor and my love of the outdoors and exploring new remote places.
You say everyone has their own impossible route. When did biking become yours and what made you decide to challenge yourself to try cycling different impossible routes?
As a kid, growing up I had a chance to test out a mountain bike through the forest behind our house. It was mind blowing to me that you could mountain bike on almost any terrain. Coming from a poor neighborhood with a mind rich with imagination, I had found my wings. Sometimes you need a goal and even if it seems impossible, the dreams inspire the work, direction and focus that always result in great things.
How do you train before your expeditions to prepare for the near impossible?
Prior to mountain biking Death Valley, I had months of training that included strength conditioning, indoor stationary trainer sessions, and countless hours riding in the cold doing back-to-back days of five to six hours of riding.
In Impossible Routes Episode 1: Mauna Kea, you state that the ride is harder than you thought it would be, but a dream come true. Has your completion of such a difficult excursion inspired you to complete the Death Valley route and other bike routes?
Absolutely! The Mauna Kea expedition was definitely not just a finish line, but the Genesis for the entire project of Impossible Routes. When you realize your capabilities exceed what you think they are, it begs the question. Where IS my limit?
You and your friend Tyler, also known as the Vegan Bicyclist, complete these impossible routes together. What are the pros and cons of enduring these impossible routes together?
Tyler is a relatively new cyclist, so as a storyteller he weaves in the humor and shares how frustrating riding a bike in crazy places can feel. I am the sage of wisdom, the old guy who knows how to get us out of trouble and can lead when the going gets tough. For the video, this chemistry really shows and despite us being opposites we work together to make it to the finish.
On the Death Valley expedition, the riders were challenged to complete each day’s route self-sufficiently, carrying what they’d need or relying on “trail magic” along the way. Can you explain why it was important for you to have IridiumĀ® 9555 devices as part of the few items you carried?
During the Impossible Routes, weāll have no cellular service for days, so having the Iridium 9555 satellite devices is crucial. It allows us not only to have operational communications with the film crew that could be two mountain ranges ahead, but it also acts as a safety net should someone get injured or lost. In some instances, it could in fact save your life.
Can you tell us more about the other impossible routes you have planned?
We are really excited about the Glacier to Teton trip coming up. Additionally, next season we have plans to do Trans Andes from the Amazon basin over the high Andes and through the worlds driest location, the Atacama Desert!955
Do you have any advice for future bikers that want to follow in your footsteps and complete their own impossible routes?
My advice is the same if you plan to ride 12 miles or 1200 miles. Plan ahead with safety first in mind and leave your ride plan with someone you trust. Bring back-up supplies and reliable communication devices you trust. Take on progressively longer or more exploratory routes so you build confidence, capability, and mental skills to one day master āyour impossibleā.