Source: Xinhua

02-13-2009 11:51

Special Report:   Tech Max

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The collision of two satellites on Tuesday is not the result of a failure on the part of the Iridium satellite or its technology, Liz DeCastro, spokeswoman for the Maryland-based Iridium Satellite LLC, said on Thursday in an email to Xinhua.

According to information shared with the company by various U.S. government organizations that monitor satellites and other space objects (such as debris), it appears that the satellite's loss was the result of a collision with a non-operational Russian satellite, DeCastro said.

This event has only minimal impact on Iridium's service and the Iridium constellation is healthy, she said.

Iridium Satellite LLC operates a constellation of 66 low Earth orbiting satellites that provide voice and data services for areas not served by ground-based communication networks.

The 560-kg Iridium 33, which collided with the defunct 900-kg Russian satellite nearly 790 km over Siberia, was launched in 1997.

 

Editor:Yang Jie