Each of the main mission antennas on an Iridium satellite consists of more than 100 of these small antennas, manufactured by Raytheon. They receive signals from ground-based phones, and the signals are then processed by onboard computers. After processing, the original signal is either retransmitted to the ground or passed to another satellite.
Motorola Space and Systems Technology Group, Satellites Communications Division, donated this artifact to the Museum in 1998.
Credit Line:
Gift of Motorola Space and Systems Technology Group.