http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-38613275 [EXCERPT] One thing the new [Iridium NEXT] satellites will not be capable of doing, however, is producing Iridium "flares". These are the flashes in the sky that result when sunlight glints off the antennas of the old spacecraft. The new satellites do not have the same configuration, so once the original constellation is de-orbited the flashes will cease. "I'm afraid those who've been tracking that phenomenon over the past 20 years have another year or two to see it," said Mr Desch [, Iridium CEO]. "As someone who's seen a couple myself, you can imagine what a thrill it is to be the CEO of a company like this and watch your satellite go overhead. But we weren't going to spend money just to make angular shiny things on our satellites, so that phenomenon will go away - but it's been fun." _______________________________________________ Seesat-l mailing list http://mailman.satobs.org/mailman/listinfo/seesat-lReceived on Sat Jan 14 2017 - 12:42:28 UTC
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