MCLEAN, Va., March 15, 2011-- A GEOScan workshop in Annapolis, Md. next month will bring together representatives from the geosciences community to form plans for a potential global Earth-observation network in space, using hosted payloads on Iridium's next-generation satellite constellation, Iridium NEXT. The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) will host this event under sponsorship of the National Science Foundation (NSF).

This GEOScan program is a grass-roots initiative to host an integrated array of scientific sensor suites as small payloads (up to 4 kilograms), known as "SensorPODs," on Iridium NEXT.

"Placing SensorPODs on Iridium NEXT is an innovative concept that would enable unparalleled visibility into Earth's atmosphere and space, providing an assessment of the impact of pressing scientific challenges, such as climate and atmospheric changes, that was never before possible," said Dr. Lars Dyrud, a senior scientist at APL. "The Iridium NEXT satellite replenishment program is an unprecedented opportunity to create a canopy of interconnected sensors covering the entire globe."

Scheduled for March 27-30, at the Historic Inns of Annapolis, the GEOScan workshop is intended to gather ideas, proposals and feedback from the geosciences community for the purposes of selecting overarching scientific goals and the sensors and measurements needed to accomplish them. The workshop will include presentations and discussions on missions and sensors. It will be followed by a half-day session on March 30 in which a steering committee will make tentative selections and recommendations for a proposal to the NSF.

"Reduced government funding for space programs will create a 'data gap' in Earth-observation programs that are critically important for the study of the Earth's atmosphere," said Dr. Om Gupta, director of strategic market development for Iridium NEXT. "The 2010 U.S. National Space Policy calls for public-private collaboration on missions where the public sector might not have the resources, and encourages federal departments and agencies to seek out nontraditional arrangements to leverage commercial capabilities."

"Iridium NEXT is not only our company's vehicle to the future, but for other organizations as well," added Dr. Gupta. The Iridium NEXT constellation will consist of 66 cross-linked, low-Earth orbiting (LEO) satellites intersecting over the north and south poles. The company expects to begin launching the new satellites in 2015. "Hosting scientific payloads as SensorPODs on Iridium NEXT offers a cost-effective choice for the scientific community to obtain a ride into space," he said.

For workshop information and online registration, visit http://workshops.jhuapl.edu/geoscan/.

About Iridium Communications Inc.

Iridium Communications Inc. (www.iridium.com) is the only mobile satellite service (MSS) company offering coverage over the entire globe. The Iridium constellation of low-Earth orbiting (LEO) cross-linked satellites provides critical voice and data services for areas not served by terrestrial communication networks. Iridium serves commercial markets through a worldwide network of distributors, and provides services to the U.S. Department of Defense and other U.S. and international government agencies. The company's customers represent a broad spectrum of industry, including maritime, aeronautical, government/defense, public safety, utilities, oil/gas, mining, forestry, heavy equipment and transportation. Iridium has launched a major development program for its next-generation satellite constellation, Iridium NEXT. The company is headquartered in McLean, Va., U.S.A. and trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbols IRDM (common stock), IRDMW ($7.00 warrants), IRDMZ ($11.50 warrants) and IRDMU (units).

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not purely historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the launch of Iridium NEXT and potential sales of hosted payload capacity. Other forward-looking statements can be identified by the words "anticipates," "may," "can," "believes," "expects," "projects," "intends," "likely," "will," "to be" and other expressions that are predictions or indicate future events, trends or prospects. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Iridium to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, uncertainties regarding demand for hosted payloads, Iridium's ability to fund, design, build and deploy its next-generation satellite constellation, general industry and economic conditions, and competitive, legal, governmental and technological factors. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements include those factors listed under the caption "Risk Factors" in the company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 7, 2011. There is no assurance that Iridium's expectations will be realized. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if Iridium's underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expected, estimated or projected. Iridium's forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and Iridium undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements.

CONTACT: Press Contacts:

         Marie Knowles

         Iridium Communications Inc.

         +1 (703) 287-7476

         marie.knowles@iridium.com

         

         Jim Rhodes

         Rhodes Communications

         +1 (757) 451-0602

         jrhodes@rhodescomm.com

         

         Michael Buckley

         Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

         +1 (240) 228-7536 (Washington line)

         +1 (443) 778-7536 (Baltimore line)

         Michael.Buckley@jhuapl.edu