Iridium Communications has completed satellite payload-to-bus integration on the first NEXT satellite.
Integration of the communication and Aireon-hosted payloads is a key stage for the project, ahead of the launch.
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Aireon-hosted payload is designed to facilitate global aircraft tracking and surveillance, which extends ADS-B coverage and benefits every flight path.
Iridium COO Scott Smith said: "This milestone moves us forward toward full completion and testing of a fully integrated satellite, and we’re very excited.
"The assembly line is working well, and we’re on track with production timing. We are full-speed ahead with the build, and that much closer to our first launch scheduled for later this year."
NEXT constellation comprises 66 satellites, which are being manufactured by Orbital Sciences at its facility in Arizona, US. Orbital is also producing a number of in-orbit and ground spares.
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By GlobalDataThales Alenia Space facility in Cannes, France, will carry out qualification testing on the Iridium NEXT satellite.
Iridium intends to complete the launch of constellation in late 2017, to offer greater bandwidth and data speeds for worldwide mobile communications on-land, at sea and in the skies.
In future, the company plans to complete the first flight dispenser for the SpaceX launch, full-power antenna testing, cross-links testing, integration of payload fairing to the space head module for the initial satellite launch, and Aireon testing and systems update.
Iridium PRIME and recently announced Iridium Certus will benefit from the Iridium NEXT network.
