Pentagon props up Iridium satellites

The US military brain center, the Pentagon, is going to spend $72 million to keep the 70 Iridium communications satellites in orbit. Motorola Corp. was to begin bringing down the Iridium system this month but the Pentagon money will allow a purchasing company, Iridium Satellite, to buy the birds. In return, 20,000 US government users, including international military personnel, the Coast Guard, the Secret Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration and other federal agencies will receive unlimited airtime for two years. Explaining the investment, the Pentagon cited concern about "widespread anxiety" among the US public over the prospect of 70 burning satellites reentering the atmosphere.

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