# Iridium NEXT

> second generation of Iridium satellite constellation, operating from 2019

**Wikidata**: [Q3154356](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3154356)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/iridium-next

## Summary
Iridium NEXT is the second-generation Iridium spacecraft constellation of communications satellites operated by Iridium Communications. It began operating in 2019 and replaced Iridium's legacy satellite fleet after a formal handover completed on 2019-02-05.

## Key Facts
- Iridium NEXT is the second generation of the Iridium satellite constellation and is a spacecraft constellation of communications satellites.  
- Operator: Iridium Communications.  
- Began operating in 2019.  
- Significant handover to full operational status: 2019-02-05 (Iridium completed the transition from its legacy satellites to the NEXT fleet).  
- Media reported completion dates: Satellite Today article "Iridium Officially Completes Iridium Next Constellation Upgrade" (publication date 2019-02-07) and SpaceNews article "Iridium ends legacy satellite service, switches all traffic to Next fleet" (publication date 2019-02-06).  
- Classified as subclass_of communications satellite and artificial satellite of the Earth.  
- Instance_of: spacecraft constellation.  
- Wikidata sitelink_count: 6; Wikipedia language editions available: cs, fi, fr, gl, ru.  
- Google Knowledge Graph ID: /g/12333j_s.  
- Quora topic value: Iridium-NEXT (referenced in dataset entry).

## FAQs
### Q: What is Iridium NEXT?
A: Iridium NEXT is the second-generation Iridium satellite constellation of communications satellites, operated by Iridium Communications and put into service beginning in 2019.

### Q: Who operates Iridium NEXT?
A: Iridium NEXT is operated by Iridium Communications.

### Q: When did Iridium NEXT become fully operational?
A: The formal handover to the Iridium NEXT fleet was completed on 2019-02-05, after which Iridium switched traffic from its legacy satellites to the NEXT constellation.

### Q: How is Iridium NEXT classified?
A: Iridium NEXT is an instance of a spacecraft constellation and is subclassed as a communications satellite and an artificial satellite of the Earth.

## Why It Matters
Iridium NEXT represents the generational modernization of the Iridium satellite system and became the active communications satellite constellation for Iridium starting in 2019. The formal handover completed on 2019-02-05 marked a decisive switch from the legacy Iridium fleet to the new NEXT satellites, an event reported in industry press as the end of legacy service and the activation of the Next fleet. As a spacecraft constellation dedicated to telecommunications, Iridium NEXT serves as the operational platform through which Iridium Communications provides global satellite voice and data services. Its deployment and activation were important milestones for the company’s service continuity and for users who depend on Iridium's satellite network. The constellation’s classification as a communications satellite system and its identification across knowledge platforms (Wikidata, Google Knowledge Graph, Wikipedia editions) reflect its relevance in the satellite communications sector.

## Notable For
- Being the designated "second generation" replacement for the original Iridium satellite constellation.  
- Entering operational service in 2019 and concluding the migration from legacy satellites with a handover on 2019-02-05.  
- Being operated and maintained by Iridium Communications.  
- Being explicitly documented and reported in industry media at the time of completion (Satellite Today and SpaceNews).  

## Body
### Overview
- Name: Iridium NEXT.  
- Role: Second-generation Iridium spacecraft constellation for communications.  
- Operator: Iridium Communications.  
- Operational start: 2019.

### Classification and instance
- Instance_of: spacecraft constellation.  
- Subclass_of: communications satellite; artificial satellite of the Earth.  
- Function class: communications/telecommunications (as a communications satellite constellation).

### Timeline and significant events
- 2019: Iridium NEXT began operating (entered service during 2019).  
- 2019-02-05: Documented handover point in time when control/traffic was switched to the NEXT constellation from the legacy fleet.  
- Industry reporting:  
  - "Iridium Officially Completes Iridium Next Constellation Upgrade" — Satellite Today (publication date 2019-02-07).  
  - "Iridium ends legacy satellite service, switches all traffic to Next fleet" — SpaceNews (publication date 2019-02-06).

### Identifiers and links
- Wikidata description: "second generation of Iridium satellite constellation, operating from 2019."  
- Wikidata sitelink_count: 6.  
- Wikipedia language editions noted: cs, fi, fr, gl, ru.  
- Google Knowledge Graph ID: /g/12333j_s.  
- Quora topic entry: Iridium-NEXT (referenced in dataset).

## References

1. [Iridium Officially Completes Iridium Next Constellation Upgrade. 2019](https://www.satellitetoday.com/launch/2019/02/07/iridium-officially-completes-iridium-next-constellation-upgrade/)
2. [Iridium ends legacy satellite service, switches all traffic to Next fleet. 2019](https://spacenews.com/iridium-ends-legacy-satellite-service-switches-all-traffic-to-next-fleet/)
3. Quora