DGAP-News

Iridium and Rutgers University Partner for Challenger Glider Mission

DGAP-News: Iridium Communications Inc. /
Iridium and Rutgers University Partner for Challenger Glider Mission

10.03.2014 / 12:00

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Rutgers University's Coastal Ocean Observation Lab Will Gather an Unprecedented
Dataset From All Five Ocean Basins

MCLEAN, Va., 2014-03-10 12:00 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:IRDM) and Rutgers University's Coastal
Ocean Observation Lab (RU COOL) today announced Iridium will be a key
technology sponsor to the Challenger Glider Mission. The project, a symbolic
re-creation of the first global scientific ocean survey conducted by the HMS
Challenger in 1872, is led by Rutgers' students and faculty. The mission plans
to 'fly' 16 autonomous underwater gliders worldwide, covering all five ocean
basins, collecting an unprecedented undersea dataset to better equip
researchers with the tools to predict the ocean's future and its impact on
global weather.

'The health of our oceans is truly an indicator of the health of our planet,
and the Challenger Glider Mission will provide the kind of high-resolution data
desperately needed by researchers to evaluate and assess the current ocean
state,' stated David Wigglesworth, Vice President & General Manager, Americas
and Global M2M Services, Iridium. 'We're thrilled to be associated with the
project, and excited to provide connectivity via the Iridium(r) satellite network
for this endeavor. Our products and services uniquely provide reliable and
global coverage, with a small form factor, which are all obvious necessities
for the success of this mission.'

The Challenger Glider Mission will be conducted from 2014 to 2016 through
coordinated flights of the core glider fleet plus volunteered gliders from
other academic and government institutions. Each glider will fly a 6,000 to
8,000 kilometer leg following the ocean gyre circulation around the five major
ocean basins. The global-class gliders used in the mission - the Teledyne
Webb-Slocum glider - is a 2.2 meter autonomous underwater vehicle that collects
data as it moves through the ocean in a saw-tooth shaped gliding trajectory,
achieving a forward speed of 25 to 35 kilometers per day. The primary vehicle
navigation system uses an onboard GPS receiver coupled with an attitude sensor,
depth sensor, and altimeter to provide dead-reckoned navigation. Iridium,
through its global satellite circuit switched data service, provides primary
two-way communications.

'We're pleased to be working with the Challenger Glider Mission and Iridium on