Given The American People's Vulnerabilty To Government Satellite Predation, Americans Should Be Actively Researching The Uses Of Such Satellites

Long ago, former President Ronald Reagan signed Executive Order 12333, which allowed for the privatization of many covert Intel programs. Reagan's signing of this EO immediately called into question the use of many private companies being contracted with to do clandestine work for the U.S. Federal Government; a situation which might be considered both treasonous and illegal. The Kinnecome Group's association with the NSA is perhaps the best example of such troubling associations.

One must also wonder if *Iridium serviced satellites are being used by the Intel community as an adjunct to satellite spy networks like Echelon, given that Iridium does provide service to the U.S. Department of Defense. When one considers that the NSA's past use of Verizon to illegally monitor the myriad phone calls of its customers under the PNAC controlled Bush Administration, such allegations of government abuses through the private sector must now be given serious consideration.

* It's also interesting to note that Iridium is based in Bethesda, Maryland, not far from the NSA's headquarters in Fort Meade.

Source:

http://iridium.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=643

"Iridium makes this possible through a constellation of 66 low-earth orbiting (LEO) satellites The Boeing Company operates. The service is ideally suited for industries such as maritime, aviation, government/military, emergency/humanitarian services, mining, forestry, oil and gas and heavy construction. Iridium currently provides service to the U.S. Department of Defense under a multi-year contract. Iridium works with more than 35 seasoned service partners to sell and support the service globally."


Iridium replaces satellite smashed in collision

Mar 9, 3:34 PM (ET)

NEW YORK (AP) - Iridium Satellite LLC said Monday that it has moved a spare satellite into the orbit of the one that was destroyed in a collision with a Russian satellite a month ago.

The high-speed crash with the decommissioned Russian military communications satellite on Feb. 9 turned both spacecraft into clouds of debris.

Soon after, Iridium, which is based in Bethesda, Md., said it had reconfigured its remaining 65 active satellites to cover the hole in worldwide satellite-phone coverage left by the crash.

On Monday, it said it had permanently closed the gap with a spare that was already in orbit, bringing its fleet back to 66 active satellites.

Iridium said it believes the incident has demonstrated the need for more "aggressive action" to track satellites and prevent collisions. It suggested expanded sharing of information between the industry and the U.S. government, which could relieve the Air Force of the need to track commercial satellites.

Nicholas L. Johnson, NASA's chief scientist for orbital debris, said last month that about 19,000 objects are present in low and high orbit around the Earth. That includes about 900 satellites, but most of it is junk.