Iridium Communications Inc. (formerly Iridium Satellite LLC) is a company, based in
McLean, Virginia, United States which operates the
Iridium satellite constellation, a system of 66 active satellites used for worldwide voice and data communication from hand-held
satellite phones and other transceiver units. The Iridium network is unique in that it covers the whole
Earth, including poles, oceans and airways. The company derives its name from the
chemical element iridium. The number of satellites projected in the early stages of planning was 77, the
atomic number of iridium, evoking the metaphor of 77 electrons orbiting the nucleus; however 95 satellites have been launched so far; the
atomic number of americium.